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How to be Good Stewards for God
How the Parable of the Talents relates our part in the Kingdom of God
Fred R. Coulter—October 7, 2017
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 3 of the Feast of Tabernacles!
After seeing what God is going to do, as we saw on Day 2, to all of those nations in the North and in the East. Finally, after that has taken place, the world will know that the Lord is God!
Whatever time it is into the Millennium that that takes place—3, 5 or 7 years later; only God knows the timing—let's look and see:
- what it will be like
- how it will be run
- our part in it
- what are we to do
- how we are going to bring Truth to the world
Let's start out in Psa. 9; quite a very interesting Psalm. David is the one who is talking and he's talking about his throne. Who is going to sit on his throne? Christ as King, as Ruler!
Psalm 9:1: "I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart…" This is the attitude that we need to have today so that we will be in the Kingdom of God, so that we can rule and reign with Christ and bring peace to the world, happiness and joy to people.
"…I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High" (vs 1-2)—reference to God the Father. He has been referred to in the Old Testament, but He was not revealed until Christ came, and revealed the Truth about God the Father to those who are called.
Verse 3: "When my enemies have turned back… [that's what we saw on Day 2] …they shall fall and perish before You, for You have maintained my right and my cause… [for Christ as well as David] …You sat upon the throne giving righteous judgment" (vs 3-4).
We have a whole study on Judge Righteous Judgment. As we're going to see, that's going to be one of the main functions of what we will be doing: judging righteous judgment!
As a matter of fact, when you read John 7, that's where Jesus said to judge righteous judgment.
Verse 5: "You have rebuked the nations; You have destroyed the wicked… [this follows up on where we left off Day 2] …You have blotted out their name forever and ever. Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy…" (vs 5-6). Everything is going to be in desolation, and it's going to cause a lot of problems and difficulties. What we're going to have to do to repair it we'll see a little later; especially Babylon.
Verse 7: "But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. And He shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall govern the people with justice" (vs 7-8). That's really something for us to understand.
Verse 9: "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, Who dwells in Zion; declare among the nations His deeds" (vs 9-11). That's what we will do.
Now let's see something very interesting about what Daniel said. Again, this is speaking about the destruction of Babylon the Great as prophesied:
Daniel 7:26: "But the judgment shall sit, and his dominion shall be taken away to be consumed… [that's the Beast Power, Babylon the Great] …and to be destroyed unto the end. 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…" (vs 26-27)—God the Father!
- we are the people
- we are the saints
- we are in training to be the rulers in the Millennium
- we are to be the firstfruits forever in the Kingdom of God
We've got the greatest and most precious promises. It's absolutely marvelous, as Peter wrote, that we will be given 'the Divine nature' (2-Pet. 2). That's awesome to understand. That's what God is doing!
If you grasp that, then you'll understand why God hates 'religion.' You'll understand why so many out there are preaching a false Christ and so forth. It's good for the world, so to speak, but it has nothing to do with true salvation and the true love and plan of God. The promise was given: a good understanding have all of those who do His commandments!
"…Whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom…. [into the ages of eternity] …And all kingdoms shall serve and obey Him." That's something! That means they will serve and obey us!
It's amazing how all of these things are scattered throughout the Bible. Of course, a good number of them are found in the book of Isaiah. Isa. 2:32 picks up where we left off in the book of Daniel, that Christ is going to rule as King and the kingdom will be given to the saints of the Most High. Here we have it expressed in another way:
Isaiah 32:1: Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and rulers shall rule in justice." What's one of the greatest things that's a problem in the world? Righteous judgment! Men want to do everything their own way; they want to pick and choose what they think is good. What happens in the end run? Satan comes in and gets a hold of it! This is why that before the Millennium can begin, Satan and the demons have to be put away.
Verse 15: "Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high… [on all people] …and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is thought to be a forest. Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace…" (vs 15-17)—which men have tried to establish for themselves separate from God from Adam to the return of Jesus Christ.
"…and the result of righteousness shall be quietness and confidence forever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable home, and in secure dwellings and quiet resting places" (vs 17-18). That's a fantastic thing. Tie this in with Micah 4.
All of these are descriptions, just like in Isa. 28. How are you going to understand? You've got to be weaned from the breast and know knowledge, 'here a little and there a little; line upon line and line upon line; precept upon precept, precept upon precept' and then you put the whole thing together!
This is why the framework of the Holy Days is so important, because putting the Word together is a special spiritual project. The Holy Days are the framework. Just like with a puzzle: if you have a thousand-piece puzzle, you first task is to get all the border first, then begin putting the pieces together. Same way with the Word of God.
Isaiah 33:5: "The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high. He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Behold, their mighty ones shall cry outside; the messengers of peace shall weep bitterly" (vs 5-7). Yes, when Christ returns.
Verse 15: "He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly; he who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands free from holding bribes, who stops his ear from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; he shall dwell on high; his refuge shall be the strongholds of rocks; bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Your eyes shall see the king in his beauty; they shall behold the land that is very far off" (vs 15-17). That's quite a thing! Then God taunts all of those who have been against Him.
Verse 20: "Look upon Zion, the city of our Holy gatherings; your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet home, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down…"—just like we saw in Isa. 4.
Verse 21: "But there the glorious LORD will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars shall go, nor shall a mighty ship pass by it."
This is the outpouring of Truth, righteousness and love symbolized coming from the throne of God. We this also in Rev. 22, New Jerusalem.
Verse 22: "For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver…"—tie that in with James 4:11-12 that if you judge the Law you are judging the Lawgiver; you are judging God. How many people do that today? Nearly everyone!
"…the LORD is our King; He will save us" (v 22). This is really great! This shows what we're going to do. That's why the Feast of Tabernacles is so important to us.
Isa. 61 tells us a little bit more about our job and what we are going to be doing. We are going to rule and reign with Christ.
Isaiah 61:6: "But you shall be called the priests of the LORD… [we're going to be kings and priests] …it will be said of you, 'The ministers of our God'":
- carrying the Word of God
- carrying the Truth of God
- carrying the love of God
- teaching the people
- helping them to grow and overcome
- showing them the way of salvation
- showing them how their life is going to be
- showing them the purpose of their life and what that is
- showing them the greatness of God
- showing them the wonders of His way
Think about some of the things that we are able to understand about God today, think about what it's going to be then!
"…you will eat the riches of the Gentiles, and you will boast in their glory" (v 6).
Because of the difficulties that we have living in this world today, yet, with this destiny and promise of God, notice what God says here:
Verse 7: "For your shame you will have double; instead of dishonor they will rejoice in their portion; therefore, in their own land they will possess double; everlasting joy will be theirs. For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth…" (vs 7-8).
What is it that we need to have always in everything we go about understanding the Bible? The Truth, the Truth, the Truth! It all fits together and there are no disagreements or contradiction with it.
"'…and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people; all who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the seed the LORD has blessed.' [Isaiah says]: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the robes of salvation…" (vs 8-10).
Think of that! Read Rev. 19-20 and 'the righteousness of the saints is the fine linen, pure and bright, spiritual!
"…He covered me with the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels; for as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes that which is sown to grow; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to grow before all the nations" (vs 10-11).
Think about how marvelous that is going to be. We're going to be the ones who are going to carry it to them:
- showing them the way
- showing them the Truth
- showing them the love
- showing them how to live their lives
- showing them how to be righteous before God
That's an amazing thing that we need to realize!
1-Tim. talks about that 'we will reign with Him'; kings and priests with Christ! This is throughout the whole Bible.
1-Timothy 1:17: "Now to the King of eternity, the incorruptible, invisible, and only wise God, be honor and glory into the ages of eternity. Amen." There it is! Doesn't that sound a lot like Isaiah and the Psalms? Yes, indeed!
1-Timothy 6:15: "Which in His own times the blessed and only Sovereign will make known, the King of kings and Lord of lords; Who alone has immortality… [1-Cor. 15] …dwelling in light which no man can approach; Whom no man has seen, nor has the ability to see… [God the Father] …to Whom belong eternal honor and power. Amen" (vs 15-16).
This is what we're going to bring to the world: God's way!
When the Apostle Paul began writing his epistles, they did not know that the Kingdom of God was so far off. They didn't understand that until wait late in their ministry, just before the destruction of Jerusalem. Especially if you read 1st and 2nd Timothy, the first epistles that Paul wrote in 52-53A.D. talking about the return of Christ as being very imminent.
Here in 1-Cor. 4 we will see that the brethren were arguing over who is going to be ruling what. They were acting as though they were already in the Kingdom of God and were ruling and reigning. So, Paul had to correct them.
1-Corinthians 4:1: "So then, let every man regard us as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Beyond that, it is required of stewards that one be found faithful" (vs 1-2).
That's what we will be. We will be stewards of God to convey the Truth to all the people. Stewards to help the people in:
- growing in grace and knowledge
- understanding and Truth
- how to live
Today we are all stewards of the Word of God, to be faithful to it. But especially all the elders and ministers are stewards. A steward is one who uses the owner's property, money and power to improve and increase his riches and standing. So, when we're stewards, we're going to be doing the same thing:
- to increase those who come into the Kingdom of God
- to increase the spiritual wealth and understanding for the people
And for all of us who are in the Kingdom of God!
After they were judging Paul in a way that they shouldn't have been, v 5: "Therefore, do not judge anything before the time; wait until the Lord comes…" You can't make the final decision on anything because God is Judge! There they were judging one another, jockeying for positions in the coming Kingdom of God, because they thought it was coming very soon.
"…Who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the motives of all hearts; and then shall each one receive praise from God. Now these things, brethren, I have applied to Apollos and myself for your sakes; that in us you may learn not to think of men beyond what is written, so that no one among you is puffed up on behalf of one of us against the other. For what makes you superior to others? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you also received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it? Now you are satiated. Now you have been enriched.You have reigned without us…." (vs 5-8).
They were acting as though the Kingdom of God was there already. So, Paul says, "…And I would that you did reign, so that we also might reign with you" (v 8).
They were looking forward to it. Today people will say that 'the Lord has delayed His coming.' NO! You have misunderstood the timing of how God is doing it, especially for those who don't keep the Holy Days. That's quite a thing for them to understand.
Rev. 5 is a prophecy sung by the 24 elders, and this will be one of the songs that we will sing when we are resurrected.
Revelation 5:9: "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the book, and to open its seals because You were slain, and did redeem us to God by Your own blood, out of every tribe and language and people and nation.'" That does not apply to the 24 elders. Some people think that it does, but there are only 24.
Verse 10: "'And did make us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.'" Because the Kingdom of God is going to come to the earth. Fantastic, isn't it? That's quite a thing!
If we're faithful, Paul wrote to Timothy; 2-Timothy 2:12: "…we shall also reign together with Him…"
There it is! Think about this, for those in the first resurrection, we will have the firstborn blessing and the firstfruits blessing for all eternity. Keep that in mind. That's an amazing thing! Whatever you troubles, difficulties that you may be going through in this world, count it all as just stepping stones to eternity! That's an amazing thing!
Matt. 25 is where it talks about the talents and what we will be doing:
- we will be reigning
- we will be ruling
- we will be teaching
- we will be showing them God's way
- we will be showing them God's Truth
- we will be showing them God's righteousness
This is right after the return of Christ (Matt. 24).
Matthew 25:14: "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man leaving the country, who called his own servants and delivered to them his property." What property has He given us?
- His Word, which is Truth
- His Spirit, which is eternal
- understanding of the Word of God
What are we to do with it? Jesus told the apostles to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature! The prophecy in Rom. 10 says that 'their word has gone out to the ends of the earth.' A prophecy of the Gospel going out just before the return of Jesus Christ to every place in the world. This is also going to be made known by the two witnesses.
Verse 15: "Now, to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one;he gave to each one according to his own ability, and immediately left the country. Then the one who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made an additional five talents" (vs 15-16). This is what we are to do. This is how we grow in grace and knowledge. Let's look at it this way:
- How much do we love God?
- How much do we love His commandments?
Read all of Psa. 119; do so before you pray on your knees before God. Don't try to read the whole thing all at once, but read certain sections of it; there are 22 sections, each section for one letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Let that inspire you:
- to grow
- to overcome
- to learn
- to serve
All the things that come from God! That is likened:
- to trading
- to increasing
- to knowing
- to understanding
Verse 17: "In the same way also, the one who had received two talents also gained two others. But the one who had received the single talent went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money. Now, after a long time, the lord of those servants came to take account with them. Then the one who had received five talents came to him and brought an additional five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered five talents to me; see, I have gained five other talents besides them'" (vs 17-20).
Now, there may be big talents or little talents, but you can have five big ones or five little ones, but they're still five. It depends on how we start and how we finish. That's another thing we need to learn: it's not how you start, it's how you finish! That becomes very important as we go through the Feast of Tabernacles.
Verse 21: "And his lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Because you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things…. [God is going to choose it; it is going to be so great we'll be joyful forever] …Enter into the joy of your lord.' And the one who had received two talents also came to him and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; see, I have gained two other talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Because you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" (vs 21-23).
Now let's look at the one who received the one talent. This is much like the Protestants. They have a certain amount of understanding from the Word of God. They know they need their sins forgiven, and only Jesus can forgive their sins. But that's as far as they go! That's like taking the one talent, the beginning knowledge of the Word of God, and stopping all progress at that point.
Verse 24: "Then the one who had received the single talent also came to him and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.'"
They didn't want all of those hard Scriptures in the Old Testament and in the New Testament; they wanted it easy. They wanted to just take the talent that God had, bury it in the ground, say that they're Christian, that they're good, that they're wonderful… Let's see what happened here:
Verse 25: "'And because I was afraid, I went and hid your talent in the earth. Now look, you have your own.' His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant!….'" (vs 25-26).
Think about this for just a minute. I'm not taking the Protestant's name in vain, nor condemning them for something that should not be brought out. However, what is the sign, perpetual sign, of God's people? His Sabbaths! The weekly Sabbath! The annual Sabbaths! Those are the treasures that God has given us, and the talents so that we can grow in grace and knowledge and produce.
His servants were the stewards, just like we are the stewards today and we'll be the stewards in the Kingdom of God.
Verse 27: "'Because you knew this, you were duty-bound to take my talent to the money exchangers, so that when I came, I could have received my own with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents'" (vs 27-28). Why give it to him?
Sidebar: Example today: A lot of people are angry—mostly Democrats—who also get all of their campaign money from the rich and elite, and claim that they're helping the poor. So, Donald Trump comes along and doesn't take any salary, and most of those who are working for him are so rich they don't take any salary. Whereas, most of those coming to Washington D.C., go there to get rich. They are operating on the basis of talents, of working to increase for the nation and for the people. So, the whiners and the complainers—whomever they are: Democrats, Socialists, anarchists, atheists—complaint that Donald Trump has got the smartest men possible, rich men, who know how to deal in money to help get the nation set right.
Would you hire a homeless man off the street and put him in charge of the treasury? NO! You hire someone who knows how to use and make money! Likewise with us! God has given us:
- His Word
- His Truth
- His Spirit
- His understanding
He wants us to grow in grace and knowledge so that we can produce to receive eternal life. We need to think about that, that's important. So, what's going to happen with the worthless servant? When they complained about giving the talent to the one who has ten:
Verse 29: "'For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; on the other hand, as for the one who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken from him.'"
Interesting statement! How many times have to you seen brethren and ministers come to a certain point and VOILA! they have a new doctrine, supposedly out of the Bible, but contrary to the Word of God. What happens to that? They lose even the talents that they had! They lose the understanding that God gave them! Some of them leave and go into the world, and it's as if they were never in the Church of God. So, here's what God says is going to take place:
Verse 30: "'And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness.' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Now, when the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the Holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory; and He shall gather before Him all the nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats" (vs 30-32).
That's the judgment that's going to be coming out of Jerusalem, and we're going to be given the task as stewards of God, ministers of God, those who understand the Word of God—now spirit beings—to help, to teach, to increase the Kingdom of God many thousands of times over again! So that when the end finally comes and the New Jerusalem and the new earth are here, it's going to be the greatest thing that has ever been.
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Now let's continue with what we'll be doing all through the Millennium in helping and teaching and so forth. Tomorrow we will look at some of the major problems that we will face, and that people will face, in the Millennium. Remember that they will still have human nature to a good degree. They will still have independent free moral agency (IFMA) and they're going to have to choose. But they're going to have everything laid out there for them.
Let's see some things on which the whole basis of the Millennium, the Kingdom of God, the Government of God and then expand it into all eternity forever.
Psalm 89:1: "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations."
Of course, this is talking about David who would do this. It's interesting that the whole 89th Psalm is praising God for His goodness and for David the king. Then it's a complaint (the last half of it): 'God, where is Your faithfulness?' Where is the throne?' This was written by an Ezrahite after they came back from Jerusalem, and they only had a governor. They did not have a king, so they were perplexed. God is this great, righteous and Holy, yet, Lord, You swore to David that his throne would be forever and we don't have it.' They didn't know that Jeremiah took it on to Ireland and then over to Scotland and then down to England. There it sits today!
So, there's a good lesson in that. If there's something you don't understand right now, don't accuse God of any wrongdoing. Rather take it this way: God has said that it is true, and it will happen, but you don't have all the facts or understanding.
Verse 2: "For I have said, 'Your steadfast love shall be built up forever; You shall establish Your faithfulness in the heavens.'" Then it talks about the covenant that God made with David.
What about the covenant that God has made with us? This is something we all need to know. This is something! People get all lifted up in vanity, all lifted up in self-importance, thinking how great they are, etc., etc., but God says that all the nations are 'a drop in the bucket'! Here's how to approach God:
Verse 11: "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; You have founded the world and all its fullness"—everything that there is in the world. How can man, who is a created being, get so exalted in his own importance?
Verse 12: "The north and the south, You have created them; Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Your name. Your arm is an arm of might; Your hand is strong, and Your right hand is exalted" (vs 12-13).
This is how we're going to rule and reign in the Kingdom of God as kings, priests, teachers, administrators and those over cities, provinces, etc.:
Verse 14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth shall go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance" (vs 14-15). That's us now and into the Kingdom of God! What blessings can be compared to that? None!
Verse 16: "In Your name they shall rejoice all the day; and in Your righteousness they shall be exalted." How is someone exalted? Remember that it says 'he who humbles himself shall be exalted, but he who exalts himself shall be abased.' Not just humbled, but abased! We're exalted in God's righteousness, not ours!
Verse 17: "For You are the glory of their strength; and in Your favor our horn is exalted, for the LORD is our shield; yea, our King is the Holy One of Israel" (vs 17-18).
Now let's put this together with Psa. 85, a wonderful Psalm. This is possibly talking about the second resurrection, or even the first resurrection, because you die, but you receive life back again.
Psalm 85:6: "Will You not give us life again, so that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak…" (vs 6-8). We have it right here.
- What is God going to teaching and telling us when we're in the Kingdom of God?
- What is it going to be like going to Jerusalem, that great city covered with this great tabernacle?
Fire by night and cloud by day, and hear Jesus Christ give a Sabbath message!
- What's that going to be like?
"…for He will speak peace to His people, and to His saints, but let them not turn again to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land" (vs 8-9). That's what we want on the whole earth, the glory of God reflected in everything that there is:
- in the land
- in the water
- in the plants
- in all of the birds
- in all the animals
- in everything that there is
What a glorious thing that is going to be, as we'll see a little later on.
To the end of this chapter is some of the most inspiring verses in the Bible:
Verse 10: "Mercy and Truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 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 10-13).
The definition of how the Kingdom of God will be administered and run. That's quite a thing when you come to understand that. That's why it's so important! What do we really need? We know we need:
- the Truth, the Truth, the Truth!
- the love of God, the love of God, the love of God
- the righteousness of God, the righteousness of God, the righteousness of God
- the mercy of God, the mercy of God, the mercy of God
All of those are what we need now and on into eternity.
Let's see what we are to learn concerning being kings, and how that's going to be, and how is it going to be put together. Think of this in terms of the Millennium:
- what we will be doing
- how we will be teaching
- what our character needs to be
- what we are going to be looking toward
This has to do with the knowledge of God, through the Spirit of God, and we will all be composed of spirit. Here's what we are to learn. Spirit and wisdom comes from God.
Proverbs 8:6: "Hear; for I will speak of excellent things…" Think of this: Christ in Jerusalem instructing us, we are instructing all the people.
"…and the opening of my lips shall be right things, for my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips" (vs 6-7). Yes, there will still be sin in the Millennium. We'll see how we deal with that a little later.
Verse 8: "All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing twisted or perverse in them…. [the straight Truth of God] …They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction and not silver…" (vs 8-10). Most important!
We have spiritual character likened to gold, silver and precious stone. But eternal life cannot be measured in the literal sense of physical things; whether it be gold or silver.
"…and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. I, wisdom… [this wisdom comes from God] …dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth" (vs 10-13).
Obviously, this is what we are to do today, develop the character of God. We're to love the Truth, love the righteousness, love God, but hate the evil, hate the sin, and not be involved in it.
Think about the perverse mouth, as well: false doctrine! Remember the sermon series we went through on false prophets and false doctrine in the end time—False Prophets, "Works of Law" and Justification. How many will succumb to it, and how they will do it. An amazing thing! Look what happened to the largest church in the history of the Church. It got taken down and destroyed with false doctrine, perverse things.
Sidebar: It always starts with the nature of God and the Passover—always, always! That's why we have The Christian Passover book of over 500 pages. I'm going to tell you again, beware of Messianic Jews and Sacred Namers who think that they know more than God. The sacred names of the New Testament are the Father and Jesus the Christ, the Son of God! That's it! The names of God are important in the Old Testament to tell us about the nature of God and so forth. But in the New Testament there's not one sacred name in the Hebrew. They come along with a perverse mouth, 'A little bit it says here, don't you believe what it says here? Yes, I believe the whole Bible! 'Well then, why aren't you doing this?'
Verse 14: "Counsel and sound wisdom are mine; I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign and princes decree justice. Princes rule by me, and nobles, and all the judges of the earth" (vs 14-16). That's going to be us!
- we're going to judge
- we're going to rule
- we're going to teach
- we're going to glorify God
Verse 17: "I love those who love me; and those who seek me early shall find me. Riches and honor are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and what I give is better than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries" (vs 17-21).
What's going to happen during the Millennium? Let's see how they tie and who they tie to, and what that amounts to, what we do with it, and what they do with what they have. Now it's talking about kings, and we're going to sit on various thrones or chairs of judgment.
Proverbs 25:5: "Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness." Think about what Satan tried to do. He came right in to try to destroy Christ.
How are countries taken down? You get a confidant to rise up with the king! But the confidant is perverse and wicked, but he doesn't show his hand until he's ready to take down the king. So, there won't be that opportunity when we're spirit beings.
Prov. 29 is very interesting; it has to do with several key important verses concerning kings and rulers.
Proverbs 29:2: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice…" Think about what it's going to be all during the Millennium, for a thousand years.
We are righteous! We will be in authority, granted officially to us to do this, that or the other. "…the people rejoice…"
Look at it today; look at every country where there is an oppressor. Look at Venezuela, what a mess that is! Perfect example, sad to say, of this verse.
"…but when the wicked rule, the people mourn" (v 2). Isn't that something? Yes!
Verse 4: "The king establishes the land by justice…" This starts with Christ; establishes the whole world, all the nations, getting down to every person. As we have seen, Truth and righteousness together. Psa. 85 says 'they kiss each other.'
Think about any government that you want to look at, but we can think of the one that was just put out of office in Washington, D.C.
Verse 12: "If a ruler hearkens to lies… [and lies himself, believes lies and lives lies]: …all his servants are wicked."
Now you know what the motto is: Drain the swampin Washington, DLC (District of Liars and Corruption). Perverse! Double-tongued!
Verse 14—this is true of Christ, this will be true of us, this is true of any leader in the world today who will follow the basic principles in the Bible: keep His Word and tell the truth.
Verse 14: "A king who faithfully judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever." Think of that! We're to be rulers and kings and priests! Notice the difference and the contrast:
Verse 16: When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases…" Isn't that what we have today? Yes! How hard is it to turn all of that around? Very difficult! We'll have more power and authority than the government today.
"…but the righteous shall see their fall" (v 16). Aren't we going to see the fall of all wickedness and lies, epitomized by Babylon the Great and what they do to the world?
Prov. 20:28—Isn't this New Testament doctrine? Think about it; everything that is written in the New Testament is an expansion on what is in the Old Testament. True? Yes, it is!
- How many hundreds of prophecies are there concerning the coming of Christ?
- How many hundreds of prophecies are there concerning the coming Kingdom of God?
All there!
Proverbs 20:28: "Love and truth preserve the king…" That is true! Let's apply this to Christ: Love, Truth and righteousness and all of the attributes of God combined together result in eternal life forever! Isn't that true? Yes!
- that's why we are to learn, grow, change and overcome
- that's why we have the Feast of Tabernacles
- that's why we're here
This is what we're to bring to the whole world, starting with Christ, Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision… [no plan, no understanding, no definition, no love, no truth, no righteousness, no mercy] …the people perish…"
We saw that happening here in America. Our current President is trying to turn this around and head it in the other direction. ;ook at the resistance he has from all of those evil people. Not that he's a paragon of righteousness, but at least he's telling the truth and doing the right thing and trying to give vision to the people of what we need to do.
"…but happy is he who keeps the Law" (v 18). That's great!
Now let's come and see how we are going to build up the society. Think about all the wonderful things, all the things that we have, all the gadgets, all the wonderful things we have today. People look at that and think that this is going to be marvelous and great and good. Look at all the conveniences we have, unlike in any other age before us that we know of.
Isa. 60 is a prophecy of the coming Kingdom of God. We know that the coming Kingdom of God is going to be greater than any civilization that men have ever had on this earth, and we'll have a part in doing that.
Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine; for your Light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you… [that's the starting of the Millennium] …for behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light… [some will have to be persuaded, but they will come] …and kings to the brightness of your rising" (vs 1-3). That's us! That's an amazing thing! That's something! Quite a thing!
Let's see what's going to happen, because this chapter tells us what kind of society we are going to bring about.
Verse 4: "Lift up your eyes all around, and see. All of them gather themselves together; they come to you. Your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall throb and swell for joy; because the abundance of the sea shall turn to you, the wealth of the Gentiles will come to you" (vs 4-5). That's going to be quite a thing!
Do we know what real wealth really is? I mean, even as human beings, the most wealthy on earth; what's it going to be like to live forever in the Kingdom of God? To live forever in New Jerusalem?
It talks about God having mercy upon them, v 10: "…but in My grace I had mercy upon you. Therefore, your gates will always be open… [the gates to New Jerusalem] …they will not be shut day nor night, that men may bring unto you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession, for the nation and kingdom that will not serve you will perish. Yes, those nations will be completely wasted" (vs 10-12).
You need to think about that at the end of the Millennium and also the Lake of Fire. Notice what it's going to be. Notice how this society is going to be:
- so wealthy
- so rich
- so beautiful
- so powerful
- so righteous
- so good
Verse 13: "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious. Also, the sons of your afflicters shall come bowing down to you; and all your despisers will bow down at the soles of your feet…." (vs 13-14).
What does it say to the Church of Philadelphia and the synagogue of Satan (Rev. 3)? They will worship at your feet! There's the fulfillment of it, the prophecy right here.
"…And they will call you, 'The city of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel'" (v 14). Where are those of the Philadelphia Church going to be? In the City of God, Jerusalem! On the earth and the New Jerusalem that is coming.
Notice what this society is going to be like; the curse of Adam is going to be removed completely; v 15: "Instead of being forsaken and hated, so that no one passes through, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. You will also suck the milk of nations, and suck the breast of kings; and you shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob" (vs 15-16).
We will see that what I'm going to read next had a partial fulfillment in the days of Solomon.
Verse 17: "For bronze I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver; and for wood I will bring bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make your overseers to be peace, and your rulers to be righteousness."
That's us! That's how we're going to serve! Every deep down desire within the deepest part of the heart of man wants these things: peace, love, joy, righteousness and goodness. But with the 'law of sin and death' and Satan the devil ruling this world, it can never happen. People get so complacent that it has to be taken away from them.
Verse 18: "Violence will no more be heard in your land, neither wasting nor ruin within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day; nor the brightness of the moon give light to you; but the LORD will be to you for an everlasting light, and your God your glory" (vs 18-19). That's how it's going to be. What a wonderful thing!
Verse 20: "Your sun will no more go down… [getting into the new heaven and the new Earth] …nor your moon withdraw; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended." What is the light of New Jerusalem? God the Father and Jesus Christ!
Verse 21: "Your people also will all be righteous; they will inherit the land forever… [that transfers over into New Jerusalem and a new Earth] …the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified." This ties in with Eph. 2.; that through the grace of God we are the workmanship of God right now, so we need to let God with His Word and His Spirit
- work with us
- help us
- train us
- give us strength
- help us to overcome the weakness, the trials, the difficulties
Living in this world we're going to have them. If you get overwhelmed with it, stop and think about what Jesus went through. How He was scourge and crucified for you, for me, for the whole world, for the complete plan of God!
Verse 22: A smallest will become a thousand, and the least one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in its time"—meaning according to the plan of God!
Let's see what it's going to be like for the whole earth. Again, notice how in Isaiah and the Psalms there are so many Scriptures relating to the coming Kingdom of God and the Millennium, and what we will do, how we will do it, and this all ties in with everything in the New Testament and reaches clear back to the creation of God.
Isaiah 11:1: "And there shall come forth a shoot out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him…" (vs 1-2).
Here's how Christ is going to rule; here is how we're going to rule and what we are going to bring to the world: the greatest civilization the world has ever, ever known in the history of all of mankind!
"…the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 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 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. And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins" (vs 2-5).
The whole animal kingdom is going to change. When Adam and Eve sinned, the nature of the land changed and he nature of the animals changed. Notice how this is going to be totally, totally, totally different than what it is now:
Verse 6: "Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid…" If you don't believe that that's a fantastic verse, go watch NatGeo Wild sometime.
"…and the calf and the cub lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (v 6). Hey, Mattel is out of business, no more plastic toys; they'll have the real thing. 'Johnny, how would you like a cub lion.' That would be good, Daddy.
Verse 7: "And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox." That's going to be something to see. Watch NatGeo and see how the lions take care of the animals today. Is that not a complete change and conversion? I wonder what it's going to be with hyenas; the worst of the animals.
Verse 8: "And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp… [I can't comprehend that, but that's going to happen] …and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper's den. '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.'" (vs 8-9). How fantastic is that going to be? It will make the Bible just like a little speck with so much knowledge.
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.' And it shall come to pass in that day, the LORD shall again set His hand, the second time, to recover the remnant of His people that remains, from Assyria and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Ethiopia, and from Persia, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the coasts of the sea. And He shall lift up a banner for the nations, and shall gather the outcasts of Israel and gather together the scattered ones of Judah from the four corners of the earth. And the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not trouble Ephraim" (vs 10-13). It's going to be quite a thing!
Verse 16: "And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, those left from Assyria; as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt."
Remember, we're going to rule and reign with Christ. The whole world is going to be changed. Former adversaries will become loving neighbors and friends.
Isaiah 19:23: "In that day there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and Assyria shall come into Egypt, and Egypt into Assyria, and Egypt shall serve with Assyria. In that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land… [unheard of, but it's going to happen] …whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be My people Egypt, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance'" (vs 23-25).
This is how the Millennium is going to be for 1,000 years!
Scriptural References:
- Psalm 9:1-11
- Daniel 7:26-27
- Isaiah 32:1, 15-18
- Isaiah 33:5-7, 15-17, 20-22
- Isaiah 61:6-11
- 1 Timothy 1:17
- 1 Timothy 6:15-16
- 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-8
- Revelation 5:9-10
- 2 Timothy 2:12
- Matthew 25:14-32
- Psalm 89:1-2, 11-18
- Psalm 85:6-13
- Proverbs 8:6-21
- Proverbs 25:5
- Proverbs 29:2, 4, 12, 14, 16
- Proverbs 20:28
- Proverbs 29:18
- Isaiah 60:1-5, 10-22
- Isaiah 11:1-13, 16
- Isaiah 19:23-25
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- John 7
- 2-Peter 2
- Micah 4
- Isaiah 4
- Revelation 22
- James 4:11-12
- Revelation 19; 20
- 1 Corinthians 15
- Matthew 24
- Romans 10
- Psalm 119
- Revelation 3
- Ephesians 2
Also referenced:
- Booklet & Sermon Series: Judge Righteous Judgment
- Sermon Series: False Prophets, "Works of Law" and Justification
- Book: The Christian Passover by Fred R. Coulter
FRC: bo
Transcribed: 8-6-17
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