Day 7—Feast of Tabernacles 2017

Gog and Magog: Land of Exile

Unrepentant sinners cannot stay in the community

Fred R. Coulter—October 11, 2017

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 7 of the Feast of Tabernacles! We have one more day, the Last Great Day, tomorrow. The time has gone by really fast, and by the time we get home and get settled in again, all the holidays of the world will start unfolding. All of the lies, all of the nonsense, and the world is going to go gung-ho after it. Always have and will continue to do so until Christ returns, the Millennium is set up and the saints of God rule.

Isn't it a fantastic thing that God has done: His plan, His purpose and everything that we can know in this life—and need to know for living, about God, what He's doing and His plan—is in the Bible. That the book that people don't like.

We know that the Protestants use part of it, but because they keep all the holidays, they know nothing about the plan of God.

Revelation 1:4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne."

{note sermons: Spirit of God/Spirit of Man—7 Spirits of God #1 & #2} They're important, Christ controls them; that's how He keeps track of what's going on in the world.

Verse 5: "And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests…" (vs 5-6). We've been covering:

• how we're going to rule in the Kingdom of God
• how we're going to serve the people
• what are they going to learn
• what are our jobs going to be
• how will all these things apply

We can 'see through a glass darkly,' but after the resurrection, then we will see everything clearly! That will be great!

"…to God and His Father; to Him be the glory and the sovereignty into the ages of eternity. Amen" (v 6). This tells us that time is going to go on after this segment of God's plan is finished. As we saw on Day 6, that is going to be great and magnificent and fantastic. The understanding of that is going to be great and glorious. But we have some work to do, yet, so let's cover that today.

Verse 7: "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen."

When He comes, they're going to think that aliens from outer space are invading the earth. They will be convinced, because they're all deceived by Satan the devil. That's what Satan is telling them, and he's preparing them for that right now.

Verse 8: "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending,' says the Lord, 'Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come—the Almighty.'" What Jesus just said here: "…Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending…" and He says in v 11 "…the First and the Last…"

We need to understand the plan of God from the beginning to the end of the Bible. The ending of the Bible is very similar to the book of Acts. Acts 28 just cuts off. Know one knows what Paul did or where Luke was or where any of the apostles were.

Likewise with the book of Revelation. It ends with the 'new heavens and the new earth' and it stops. We'll cover that tomorrow: what is beyond into the ages of eternity? Well, the Millennium is a big part of it!

Let's apply Isa. 65 to the Millennium. When we take over the earth, it's going to be one giant chaotic, upside down, war destroyed mess! There's going to have to be a new heaven and a new earth at that time. We'll just leap ahead here a little bit: When those who are resurrected in the second resurrection come into the world, it's going to be a new one to them. But all during the Millennium we will building up, building up, building up, preparing for the Last Great Day!

God says, Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind." Isn't that something?

• all the sins
• all the wars
• all the wretchedness

Wipe the slate clean and get it over with!
Verse 18: "But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create…" Remember, the character of God is being created in us now, so all during the Millennium they're going to be living in a new heaven and a new earth—physical—and God is going to be creating in all of those who are converted, the spiritual character to enter into life! That's going to be a fantastic and tremendous thing. The whole world is going to be completely changed from what we think it is now and know it is now.

"…for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and I will joy in My people; and the voice of weeping will no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying" (vs 18-19).

Also, you could apply this to Rev. 21 & 22. This gives us a good example of how the Bible has additional fulfillments layered in, which other parts of the Bible will help us understand.

Verse 20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days… [there won't be any abortion either] …nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old; but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed."

Verse 21: "'And they will build houses and live in them; and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build, and another live in them; they will not plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are so will be the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for calamity. For they are the seed of the beloved of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the food of the serpent. They will not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy mountain,' says the LORD" (vs 21-25).

That's applied to the whole earth, every nation, all people. Let's analyze this for just a little bit, and how can we answer certain question? By other Scriptures! What will that tell us? Since God is 'the same yesterday, today and forever, and changes not,' what we find in the Bible that He has done in the past and what He promises to do in the future we can bring together and understand these Scriptures!

Brethren, what we're going to understand is that it's going to be fantastic, that God's plan is so overwhelmingly magnificent and great that it is just absolutely breathtaking, dumbfounding, awesome—and whatever other adjectives you want to add to it.
Let's analyze v 20, bring other Scriptures to bare so we can understand what's going to happen.

Verse 20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days, nor an old man…" In general that means men and women.

Sidebar: God is not against women. There would be no plan, no people, no children, nothing without women! That's how important you are!

"…that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old…" We know that 'it's given once to men to die and then the judgment.' Keep that in mind.

"…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20). What does that mean? Completely cutoff from God! The sinner, when he dies he has a different fate than the one who is righteous.

We can learn something very important in 1-Thess. 4. When Christ returns, there will still be those who are still alive. What's going to happen to them?

Hebrews 9:27: "…it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment."

1-Thessalonians 4:14: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in exactly the same way also, those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." People read that they're in heaven and He's going to bring them with Him. No! This is talking about after they are resurrected.

So, here is thing that happens in the Bible a lot. It is outlined ahead of time, then the details follow. That's exactly what we have here.

Verse 15: "For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep."

Those who have fallen asleep are dead and buried in the grave. They will be raised first. Then those who are alive will come and be changed and come up to the Sea of Glass.

What happens? Since it's given to everyone to die once, we can conclude that if they're alive when Christ returns, there's going to be an instantaneous death and change from flesh to spirit! It's give to every man once to die.

Even during the Millennium, people are still going to have the 'law of sin and death,' though not as powerful as it is now (Ezek. 36)—give them a heart of flesh rather than a heart of stone. But they will still have free moral agency; God is no going to take that away.
Verse 16: "Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds for the meeting with the Lord in the air; and so shall we always be with the Lord" (vs 16-17).

That's when we all come with the Lord, when we come back to the earth. We find that in Rev. 15, 16 & 19.

Let's apply this to Isa. 65. The ones who are righteous will be changed. We'll add one more Scripture to it to show how this whole process is going to work:

1-Corinthians 15:50: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God…"

We have to be changed from flesh to spirit. So, how are those during the Millennium going to come into the Kingdom of God? They will have to have an instantaneous death and change!

"…nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed" (vs 50-51).

So, with an instantaneous death you don't go into the sleep of death, you are changed to be a spirit being. That's what happens when Christ returns for those who are still alive. That's what's going to happen to those during the Millennium when they live their life to the full and are ready to enter the Kingdom of God at a hundred years old.

I've often thought this: What kind of Sabbath services are we going to have when they are brought into the Kingdom of God. What a motivator that will be for people to really see what a fantastic thing this will be. You come to Sabbath services and here is the group of people that have been faithful for a hundred years and now we have a special ceremony. I don't know how that's going to work, but we'll find out, because we will participate in that. Christ is the One Who is going to make it happen. They will be changed from flesh to spirit, but because they have to die—like it says the infant will die—it will be instantaneous from flesh to spirit.

Let's analyze the thing concerning the sinner; Isaiah 65:20: "…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed."

That's means cutoff from God. That mean that the sinners will die because they had a hundred years to change, to repent, to overcome. IFMA—independent free moral agency—there are going to be some who refuse to repent, so when they die they're going to be buried. That's their first death. Since they are accursed, that means they're going to face the second death.

How is it going to work during the Millennium? We understand this, but how is it going to work? Let's talk about what God has done in the past concerning when people sin. Remember: repentance is always available until a person comes to the point that he or she has hardened their heart and refused to repent! They've been warned and warned!

Gen. 3—perfect example: God was there. Just like in the Millennium Christ will be there, the saints will be there; we'll be kings and priests, we're going to rule on the earth, and all of those things will be part of it. That will be something!

Adam and Eve sinned. The wages of sin is death, but the key is that death doesn't happen immediately. God kept them alive for over 800 years. The plan of God couldn't go forward if, when Adam and Eve sinned, they would die immediately. This is why when you come to Gen. 3:15 that the first prophecy of the Messiah is given. All of mankind pretty much goes their own way and Satan the devil became the 'god of this world.'

God was still in charge, but nevertheless, everyone had to choose. So, what did God do to Adam and Eve when they sinned? He exiled them outside the Garden of Eden! They couldn't go in. They had no access to the Tree of Life, which is very important to understand.

All of those down through the Old Testament, except for the few that God chose—the patriarchs and some of the kings—never had eternal life offered to them, because they didn't have access to the Tree of Life.

Now let's see what happened with Abel and Cain. We know that Abel brought his offering and it was according to the commands of God, because God 'had respect unto his offering, but not unto Cain's.' Let's read about Cain and then see how God handled this. God didn't have regard to Cain's offering, and Cain was extremely angry:

Genesis 4:5: "But He did not have regard unto Cain and his offering. And Cain was extremely angry and his countenance fell. And the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you so angry? And why has your countenance fallen?'" (vs 5-6). He chose to be angry, instead of saying, 'Lord, what should I do?'

Notice God's answer and always remember that this applies to the Millennium, as well. God offers repentance! If you repent you'll be accepted.
Verse 7: "If you do well, shall you not be accepted? But if you do not do well, sin lies at the door…." Sin is the transgression of the Law, and a greater definition is that 'sin is lawlessness.' Sin is also disobeying the voice of God!

"…sin lies at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it!" (v 7)—free moral agency!

• we must choose
• we must choose to put sin out
• we must choose to repent to God

If we do, God will forgive us!

Sin is for you, "…but you must rule over it!" You can't let sin control your life.

Verse 8: "And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it came to pass that when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And the LORD said unto Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel?' And he said, 'I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?' And He said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to Me from the ground'" (vs 8-10).

Cain expected the death penalty, but God says, 'No, I'm going to let you live. I'm going to put a mark on you, and I'm going to exile you.' Notice the steps:

• sin—not unto physical death
• Adam and Eve were removed and they continued to live
• they were cutoff from salvation
• they lived their lives and they understood about some of the Laws of God

How they kept them we don't know! We know from Josephus that they had 56 children, and all of them had children, and all of them had children.

So, here's Cain: What did God do with him?Did God let him live right there where Adam and Eve were living outside the Garden of Eden? No! He exiled Cain to the land of Nod, or the land of wandering! He was completely cutoff! Cutoff from God! We don't know about Cain's descendants; we don't know if any of them ever repented or not, it doesn't tell us.

• Gen. 4 gives the line of Cain
• Gen. 5 gives the line of the patriarchs
• Gen. 6 gives the Flood

Look what happened and why God had to bring the Flood.

If someone is a sinner and will not repent, they are exiled! Sent away!
Let's see the same thing with the Canaanites. After the blessing and promise given to Abraham, they're going to take over the land. When the children of Israel went in there, look at all the sins that they did, what they committed.

With Israel, remember how it started out. 'If you will obey My voice you'll be to Me a nation of priests.' They said they would. God gave the Ten Commandments, but since they were a physical nation He also gave ordinances and statutes and lesser laws to help regulate society. With that also came the death penalty, because they were a sovereign nation.

You look at all that was there, and there were things that people did that they could repent of, offer and offering and sacrifice, pay a fine, offer a sacrifice and they could continue to live. But if they did something that was unto death the death penalty was administered to them. In all these cases that we're talking about, this is the first death!

Think about the ten tribes of Israel, how they came into being with the separation because of the sins of Solomon. Jeroboam setup the two calves in Dan in the North and Bethel in the South. This thing became sin, so God punished them by sending nations to invade them, war against them. How many ever really repented we don't know. None of the kings of the ten northern tribes were ever commended for their righteousness. Some few of Judah were.

What happened to them? Since God's plan continues on, and He desired not to execute the death penalty on all of them, He sent them into exile! After God commanded them to walk in the way that they should, not after the nations around them:

2-Kings 17:9: "Now, the children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God…." Here's the real key: there's no such thing as a secret sin because God knows!

"…And they built high places in all their cities for themselves from the Watch Tower to the fortified city. And they set up images and groves for themselves in every high hill, and under every green tree. And they burned incense in all the high places, like the nations whom the LORD had removed from before them, and they practiced evil things to provoke the LORD to anger, for they served the idols of which the LORD had said to them, 'You shall not do this thing'" (vs 9-12).

Here's something else that God always does. 'The wages of sin is death,' yet, that is the ultimate result of it, not immediate. God always offers repentance. How does He offer repentance?

Verse 13: "And the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah, by all the prophets, by all the seers, saying, 'Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes…'"

During the Millennium, if someone sins the same thing will apply. Didn't we read in Isa. 30 that if they go the right hand or the left hand that we will say, 'here's the way, walk in it.' That's a warning!

• What if they don't walk in it?
• What if they don't repent?
• What's going to happen?

Here's the warning; this is what God does to the nation. We'll talk about the individual in a little bit.

"…'Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes according to all the law, which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets'" (v 13). Isn't that what it's going to be for us administering people in the Millennium?

• we're going to bring God's Word
• we're going to tell them what to do

And if by free moral agency they sin, they will be offered repentance. If they repent they can stay in the community. Isn't that the way God works? Yes, indeed! For you to understand that, read 2-Chron. about Josiah and what he did. The people were able to remain in the land for the time being.

Verse 14: "Nevertheless, they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers who did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected His statutes and His covenant, which He made with their fathers, and His warnings that He testified against them. And they went after vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them not to do like them. And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God and made molten images, two calves for themselves. And they made a grove, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal" (vs 14-16). What a whole stack of sins that is!

Verse 17: "And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire. And they used divination and sorceries, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger. So, the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of His sight…" (vs 17-18).

He sent the Assyrians to take them captive and to send them into captivity, exiled them! So, whenever God does not desire to execute someone for their sins immediately, they are removed. Let's take that principle and we'll apply it to the Millennium.

Someone sins, they repent! Let's see what the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians with a man who sinned. Was he removed? Let's see what happened. We are not going allow, during the Millennium, sins to pile up. But nevertheless, when there sin and there is no repentance, they cannot stay in the community. Of course, the death penalty can be executed against anyone at any time if they do something worthy of death. But if the sinner remains a sinner for a hundred years, he's going to die accursed because he hasn't repented of his sins.

Here's what happened because this man did not repent, and he people were responsible:

1-Corinthians 5:1: "It is commonly reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—allowing one to have his own father's wife…. [his step-mother] …You are puffed up and did not grieve instead, so that he who did this deed might be taken out of your midst" (vs 1-2)—removed from the fellowship.

Or in the case of during the Millennium, removed from the fellowship/community. You've got the churches, wherever they are—and there will be lots and lots of churches… They will be removed from the community. In this case, in Corinth, he went home.

Verse 4: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together… [against those who sin] …and my spirit, together with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (vs 4-5).

In the Millennium, Satan will be gone! So where will they deliver them? That will be something like a repentance center, that through prayer and study, repentance and teaching, the person can be reinstated after repentance! That's what Paul said:

2-Corinthians 2:6: "To such a one this punishment, which was inflicted by the majority of you, is sufficient." So, if there is enough punishment that is sufficient to bring a person to repentance, then they can come back into the community.

Verse 7: "So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive and encourage him, lest such a one be swallowed up with overwhelming sorrow." Especially during the Millennium, because they will understand what's going to happen with the plan of God, and they are going to know that they are going to lose out on eternal life.

So, for those sins, which are repentable sins, and they can come to repentance and be re-established in the community and the fellowship, they'll be brought back. So, Paul says that he didn't want him "…swallowed up with overwhelming sorrow."

Verse 8: "For this reason, I exhort you to confirm your love toward him…. [because all of this is done in love] …Now, for this cause I wrote to you, that I might know by testing you whether you are obedient in everything. But to whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; and if I also have forgiven anything, to whomever I have forgiven it, for your sakes I forgave it in the person of Christ" (vs 8-10).

Since Satan isn't around any longer, you can't turn them over to Satan. So, you turn them over to a repentance center.

• What if they don't repent there?
• What do you do?

(go to the next track)

Let's understand what Jesus said when someone sins. We also know that forgiveness is granted upon repentance, and that's the important thing to understand. God also grants repentance. So if there is:

• repentance
• a broken heart
• a contrite spirit

God will grant repentance, and they'll be brought back into the community.

Matt. 18 shows us how we are to handle things today, but it's a principle for us that will apply during the Millennium as well.

Matthew 18:11: "For the Son of man has come to save those who are lost." Of course, those who are lost have to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. That's what's going to have to happen during the Millennium, as well. So, Jesus asks:

Verse 12: "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and search for the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Likewise, it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (vs 12-14).

So, we need to keep that in mind. God wants mercy and not sacrifice! God wants people to repent so they can receive eternal life. But like everything else, when we sin and repent, we have to learn the lesson, and understand what we need to do to not do it again. If it comes up again in our mind, we need to repent for the things that come into our mind so that we can have God's Spirit help us cleanse our mind, our heart and our thoughts. That same process will be for the ones who are righteous during the Millennium!

Verse 15: "So then, if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he is willing to hear you, you have gained your brother." That's what God wants; redemption and reconciliation, of course!

Verse 16: "But if he will not listen, take with you one or two others, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." You know exactly what happened, what went on, what the situation is, what needs to be done and what needs to be repented of.

Verse 17: "And if he fails to listen to them, tell it to the Church. But if he also fails to listen to the Church, let him be to you as the heathen and the tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on the earth will have already been bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on the earth will have already been loosed in heaven" (vs 17-18)—according to the will of God first. Let's take this and apply it to during the Millennium.

Isaiah 65:20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days, nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old…" we've cover what's going to be an instantaneous death and transformation to eternal life.

"…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 21). I made the statement that if someone sins a sin unto death that he will be executed. NO! I've thought about that and I think that it's going to be exactly as it was with Cain.

• Did Cain murder? Yes!
• Was it willful and malicious? Yes!
• Was that deserving of the death penalty? Yes!
• Did God execute the death penalty upon Cain? No!
• What did He do? He further exiled him away, far, far away to the land of Nod!

If the sinner is going to be accursed at a hundred and dies and is buried, he is looking forward to resurrection to the Lake of Fire. So, let's see if we can answer this conundrum.

• What happens if someone is sent to a repentance center and they don't repent?
• What are you going to do then?

They absolutely refuse to repent, because free moral agency is free moral agency, and God isn't going to strip that away, otherwise we become robots! But if they choose not to repent, just like with the children of Israel who sinned, just like Cain who sinned, God removes them into further exile!

I think we will find the answer in Rev. 20. We know that before the Millennium begins Satan is bound, so Satan is nowhere around.

Revelation 20:7: "Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison… [notice what he does] …and he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog…" (vs 7-8).

Stop right here! Did we not read on Day 1 or 2 that Gog and Magog are going to be defeated by God shortly after the beginning of the Millennium and that they will know that God is Lord? Yes! Do we also know that God is no respecter of persons? Yes! So, when we read this—Gog and Magog—there are two ways to look at it:

• the people

At the beginning of the Millennium, those who lived in that area are going to come to know the Lord. But how big is Gog and Magog? It's quite a huge area!

• geographical area of Gog and Magog—perhaps not the whole nation

We find the same thing in the Bible. It talks about Israel as the people, and it talks about Israel as the land. If you're going to exile someone because they refuse to repent, you have to send them someplace where they will remain, and they have to die accursed and buried.

Will there be a section of Gog and Magog that God reserves for that? We can conclude from what we have covered so far, undoubtedly it has to be something like that.

"…Gog and Magog, of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (v 8).

What's going to happen in the last generation of the thousand years, the full 100-year period. Those who sin a sin unto death, but will not have an opportunity to die will be exiled to the geographical area of Gog and Magog.

Something is going to happen in that last generation. We don't know what it is, but remember what we covered: the problem of growing up in a perfect world: complacency, disobedience and sin, or rebellion, however you want it. Unrepented sin!

How many that's going to be in the last 100 years that will not repent—they'll be given every chance to repent—will be further removed, exiled, to Gog and Magog and then God is going to bring about their first death, because they will not have had a chance to live a hundred years as a sinner and to die and be buried. Here's what's going to happen:

"…Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; and he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (vs 7-8).

Notice what's going to happen to them; they're all going to die at once; v 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints, and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them." The flames devoured them, burned them up.

What we have here is the first death. Do not those people have to be removed before the beginning of the Great White Throne Judgment? Yes, indeed! How many people who have no reached a hundred, but are righteous will live on over to the beginning of the Great White Throne Judgment to help those people get established into what is the way of God?

We'll cover that tomorrow. This becomes very important for us to realize, because Satan now has to have his judgment and the end of the Millennium, the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles pictures the final judgment of Satan the devil. Since he's a spirit being, immortal, he cannot die, but he is likewise going to be exiled; removed and put out of commission.

Verse 10: "And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast… [that was at the beginning of the Millennium] …and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity."

We assume that they're going to be tormented by the fire day and night for eternity. But the Lake of Fire consumes the whole earth and burns everything up to prepare it for the new earth. So, Satan is removed!

Jude tells us what's going to happen to Satan and the demons; very interesting, indeed!

Jude 8: "In the same way also, these dreamers of filthy dreams are defiling the flesh, and are declaring as invalid the Lordship of God, and are blaspheming the Divine powers. But Michael the archangel, when he was personally taking issue with the devil, disputing about the body of Moses…" (vs 8-9).

That must have been some argument going on there. Just think what Satan would have done if he would have had the body of Moses. You know, incase it in a coffin filled with honey so he wouldn't rot.

"…did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment against him, but said, 'The Lord Himself rebuke you!' As for these, whatever things they do not understand, they blaspheme; but whatever things they understand by instinct, as irrational brute beasts, they are corrupting themselves in these things" (vs 9-10).

That's a perfect description of what's going to happen in the exiled area where the sinners go who committed a sin worthy unto death, but are exiled instead of being executed at that time.

Verse 11: "Woe to them! For they have walked in the way of Cain; and for gain, they have wholly given themselves up to Balaam's delusion, and haveperished in the rebellion of Korah. These are subversive stains in your love feasts, feasting in person together with you; fearlessly they are feeding themselves. They are clouds without water… [this is referring now back to the demons] … being driven by the winds; trees of late autumn, without any fruit, uprooted, twice dead" (vs 11-12). Those are the humans that the demons deceive.

Verse 13: "Raging waves of the sea, casting up like foam their own ignominious shame; wandering stars…"

That's the key of the demons; stars represent the angels of God. Lucifer and one-third of the angels followed him—who were stars previously—in the rebellion. This is talking about "…wandering stars…"

• they left God's way
• they left the Truth
• they followed Satan the devil

Satan had his own kingdom; they ruled over the earth! But here they are now "…wandering stars…"

"…for whom has been reserved the blackest darkness forever!" (v 13). That is the torment day and night forever. They will be exiled to someplace in the universe, wherever it is.

They understand some things about the universe concerning black holes. They have to be the darkest of blackness and once something goes in there it never comes out. Would that not be the perfect eternal warning by God to all of those who are now in the Kingdom of God, the Family of God and ready to inherit New Jerusalem and the new heavens and the new earth?

Never rebel against God, because the earth is not going to be burning forever and ever. Peter tells us that it's going to consume the earth, the atmosphere around the earth, and then God is going to create, renew the earth for all the spiritual sons and daughters of God: families, nations and so forth as spirit beings.

Those who are the firstfruits, we will see tomorrow, will live in New Jerusalem. So, that is Satan's fate, the blackness of darkness forever!

What does this mean for us today? This means that if we understand these things, understand the situation, understand the plan of God, what should we be doing? We need to be yielding ourselves to God to make our election sure!That's what we need to be doing.

Let's see Peter's admonition to us. Remember where we started on the night of welcome: where there is no vision, the people perish! But where people keep the vision, keep the understanding, realize the goal that's ahead and always working for it; let nothing hold you back. If and when you sin, repent! God is there and He will forgive you! Ask Him to help you overcome, change and grow.

Notice what Peter wrote; he wrote this urgent epistle just before he died, and he told them he knew he was going to die, so he was writing this so they would have it.

2-Peter 1:1: "Simon Peter a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained the same precious faith as ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."

All of this comes spiritually from God! This is how we are going to succeed. This is how all of us need to succeed. Let's understand what God is doing for us. The special firstfruits, the Church of the Firstborn!

Verse 2: "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and virtue" (vs 2-3).

• He's called us to live like God
• He's called us to be like God

Verse 4 is the key thing for us so that we carry the understanding and Truth, and live according to the way that God wants us to:

• so we can continue to grow and grace and knowledge
• so we can continue to understand the Word of God
• so that we can be strong in the faith
• so that we can be strong in Christ
• so that we can be strong in the knowledge of God

This is a promise, v 3: "According as His Divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and virtue; through which He has given to us the greatest and most precious promises…" (vs 3-4).

• There is nothing greater, nothing in the world to compare with the Truth of God!
• There is nothing in the religions of men that compare to the promises of God!

"…that through these you may become partakers of the Divine nature…" (v 4). Think of that! What is that going to be like, to have the very nature of God as His own sons and daughters? To live forever in New Jerusalem? And whatever God's plan for the whole universe is that we will have a part of? That is going to be truly, truly an amazing thing!

"…having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (v 4).

Here is how we escape it and how we do the things so that we will be there working with Christ and all the saints, ruling for the whole Millennium and see all of things that we have learned during this Feast take place and actually be a part of it and bring it to pass.

Verse 5: "And for this very reason also, having applied all diligence besides…" If you're diligent you have vision. If you vision you will have diligence. It's exactly what Peter is talking about here:

"…add to your faith, virtue…"—good conduct, good thoughts, all built on love.

"…and to virtue, knowledge…" (v 5). He tells us in the last part that we are to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• think of all the knowledge that we have today
• think of all the things that God has given us today
• think of the things that He has given to us with the understanding of His Word

Always remember: We have nothing we didn't receive, and it is in Him that we live, move and have our being!

Verse 6: "And to knowledge, self-control…" That's the whole purpose of growing and overcoming. Self control through:

• the power of God's Holy Spirit
• making the right choices of God
• the Word of God
• the understanding and patience that comes from God

"…and to self-control, endurance…"—because we have to endure to the end! Remember this: Here's a ravine with a cliff on each side, and in order to get to the Kingdom of God you've got to jump over this ravine, because that's the cesspool of the world.

• IF you make it 50%, you're not going to attain
• IF you make it 80%, you're not enduring to the end and you fall down into the crevasse
• IF you make it 90%, if you can grab hold of something on the other side and exert great power, then maybe you can be lifted up and make it

But, today we have so much given to us that God expects us—as He told the Laodiceans—to repent. He Apostle Peter is saying that the process of repenting and growing is right here.

"…and to endurance, Godliness" (v 6). Godliness doesn't come easily, especially when you're fighting against the carnal mind.

Verse 7: "And to Godliness, brotherly love…" You see how this builds step-by-step.

"…and to brotherly love, the love of God" (v 7). Notice what Peter says, because this is important, We've seen all the things during the Feast of Tabernacles and the great things that Christ is going to do for all the world, for all people. He's giving us the opportunity to be there with Him to rule as kings and priests.

Verse 8: "For if these things exist and abound in you, they will cause you to be neither lacking effort nor lacking fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…. [because you keep that vision] …But the one in whom these things are not present is spiritually blind—so short-sighted that he has forgotten that he was purified from his old sins. For this reason, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure; because if you are doing these things, you will never fall at any time" (vs 8-10).

You won't fail! You may stumble, but you're not going to fall away. God has given this knowledge and understanding to us! The Feast of Tabernacles is a wonderful time for us to have the fellowship and be together. God in His merciful graciousness has given us one more day, the Last Great Day, which will be the most phenomenal time in the whole history of the world!

We will be there as the firstborn Church, as the firstfruits of God, administering the greatest salvation all during the Millennium and then the Last Great Day!

Come back tomorrow and we will hear the rest of the story!

Scriptural References:

• Revelation 1:4-8, 11
• Isaiah 65:17-25, 20
• Hebrews 9:27
• 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
• 1 Corinthians 15:50-51
• Isaiah 65:20
• Genesis 4:5-10
• 2 Kings 17:9-18
• 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 4-5
• 2 Corinthians 2:6-10
• Matthew 18:11-18
• Isaiah 65:20-21
• Revelation 20:7-10
• Jude 8-13
• 2 Peter 1:1-10

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Acts 28
• Revelation 21; 22
• Ezekiel 36
• Revelation 15; 16; 19
• Genesis 3:15; 5; 6
• Isaiah 30

Also referenced: Sermons: Spirit of God/Spirit of Man—7 Spirits of God #1 & #2

FRC: bo
Transcribed: 8/13/17

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