The Last Great Day—2018

The Final Judgment of God

Fred R. Coulter—October 1, 2018

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to The Last Great Day, the great day of the Feast! When we read of it in Lev. 23, we have no idea as to what it means, because it's only called the eighth day!

Remember that Leviticus is the beginning of the Holy Days. In explaining them all in order. The Passover actually was portrayed in Gen. 15 and the exodus, the promise that they would be taken out of Egypt.

The promise of the Messiah goes all the way back to Gen. 3:15, and goes all the way forward to the end of the plan of God. That's why Jesus said that He's 'Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.' He's taking care of the first, everything in between and the last.

Here we are on the eighth day, the last. Let's see that this is one the greatest, most awesome, fantastic, unbelievable days in the plan of God. Here's something always important to remember: Moses never gave a single law of his own initiative! They all came from God!

Leviticus 23:33: And the LORD spoke to Moses saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, saying, "The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD"'" (vs 33-34).

Of course they were to offer the offerings and so forth; v 36: "…It is a solemn assembly…."

Verse 36: "Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day…"

Let's go back in time to when this was given. What was the meaning of it? They had the meaning of the Passover right; that God passed over and spared the firstborn of the children of Israel.

They had the meaning of Unleavened Bread, that commemorating leaving Egypt, and crossing the Red Sea was the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Then they had the meaning of Pentecost, because Pentecost was the day in which the Ten Commandments were given, and the other instructions after that, to Moses.

After that they had very little understanding! So, when we come down to this time, let's understand that it could not have been completely understood until the book of Revelation was completed!

That means that of all the apostles—go backward from John—all the way back to the beginning, the understanding of these days were clouded, shrouded, no definition, no meaning was given. So, on this eighth day:

"…shall be a Holy convocation to you…. [that's today] …And you shall offer an offering made by fire…" (v 36). Today we don't do it by fire, we do it by what we have in our monetary system as it is today.

"…to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly. And you shall do no servile work therein" (v 36). Then God summarizes everything here in the next few verses.

Verse 37: "These are the Feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be Holy convocations to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything on its day." All of those are describing the things that are offered at the temple.

Verse 38: "Besides the Sabbaths of the LORD… [every Holy Day is called a Sabbath] …and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD."

So, this doesn't tell us very much about what it means. We know that the children of Israel were told that they should keep the Sabbath, because they were slaves in Egypt. And that they should keep the Feast of Tabernacles because of the temporary dwellings.

But it takes the New Testament to understand the meaning of it. So, before we get into that, we'll take up an offering. Remember that it is to God! Remember that we try and do everything to use all the funds:

• to help the brethren
• to produce the things that we need to produce
• to do the websites
• to do the booklets and books that we produce
• to help people to understand the Truth

All of that, everything, comes from God!

(pause for the offering)

We do not know exactly when the term or phrase The Last Great Day came to be known to describe this day. But we find in John 7 that it was written by John as The Last Great Day of the Feast, and it was the pouring of the water ceremony around the altar of God. It encompassed the last day, the seventh day, of the Feast of Tabernacles, and the eighth day.

Let's read what it says, and then we'll ask some questions that will help give us understanding of what this day means.

John 7:37: "Now, in the last day, the great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and called out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts… [because they were pouring out the water] …let him come to Me and drink.'" What did He say about eating His flesh and drinking His blood?

Water is a type of the Holy Spirit; v 38: "The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." That means motivated by the Spirit of God from the innermost part of your being! That comes from God!

Verse 39: "But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, which those who believed in Him would soon receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified."

Now let's look at some things, because it says anyone and the one who believes. As strange as it may seem, think about how many people know how to quote John 3:16. How many people trust in John 3:16, but really don't have a clue as to what it means?

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world…" That goes back to the beginning of man to the end of the age, and beyond that, and beyond that! When this age closes there's a thousand years, and when that closes there's the second resurrection, which fits into The Last Great Day.

"…that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life" (v 16). It's conditional!

When did Jesus come in the history of time as we know it? Well, there were people who lived 4,000 years before Jesus, and never heard of His name. Is God not going to give them an opportunity?

An atheist could read this and say, 'Okay, what about all of those who lived and died before Jesus came? How are they going to have an opportunity? What about all of those who die in unfortunate accidents, wars—everything like that—and it says everyone who believes?

Even further, let's see something else concerning what Jesus said. Remember what God wants with us when we come to the Laodiceans. He says to either 'be hot or cold.' Why does God want them cold with no understanding, if He's going to give them eternal life? How is that going to work?

I want you to understand as we read, Matthew 13:14: "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'In hearing you shall hear, and in no way understand; and in seeing you shall see, and in no way perceive.'" Why didn't God give them understanding?

Verse 15: "For the heart of this people has grown fat…" Why has it grown fat? Because they will not obey God! They do not want to understand the Word of God!

"…and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed… [Satan is there to help them close] …lest they should see with their eyes, and should hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them" (v 15). Think on that!

God says that He wants them all converted (John 3:16). It says here in Matt. 13:15 that He doesn't want them converted.

• How is it going to be that anyone at anytime in history who believes in Jesus…?
• How are they going to believe Him if they haven't heard?
• How are they going to understand it if they lived their lives and died?
• How is it going to be for all of those infants and children who have been killed and slaughtered beginning with abortion down through history?

Notice what Jesus says to those who are His. All the understanding that we have, brethren, comes from God! We cannot—no human being can—understand the Scriptures of God and the plan of God, and the meaning of the Holy Days, unless it has to be revealed spiritually!  God has to take away the blindness, and the blindness is not removed, or beginning to be removed, until we begin to keep the commandments of God.

As you all know, what's the big one that does it? It's interesting that the #4 refers to Christ and His crucifixion, and the #4 refers to the Sabbath commandment of the ten. Tie those two together and begin keeping the Sabbath the way God wants it to be kept, and begin yielding yourselves to God and repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, then you will begin to understand.

Verse 16: "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see what you see, and have not seen; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard" (vs 16-17). Isn't that an amazing thing?

• How do you know about Christ?
• Is it because you're a good person? No!

That's why we have to repent, because we're not 'good' by nature. We may be able to do some good things, but think about all the evil things that we have done, and also the evil that's in the mind, because that's the whole point of conversion, the conversion of the mind and the heart!

Matthew 11:24: "But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

 We'll talk about the day of judgment, because it's coming. But remember, for the Church: now is judgment upon the house of God! And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly and sinner be? Good question!

Verse 25: "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to babes.'"

Remember how we started: A speck of dust and the end result is the son or daughter of God! The intelligent and wise don't know. As a matter of fact, those who are wise and intelligent—because they reject God—are fools (Rom. 1).

Verse 26: "Yes, Father, for it was well pleasing in Your sight to do this. All things were delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son personally chooses to reveal Him" (vs 26-27).

Let's understand something very important in our lives: We have nothing we didn't receive and every human being lives and moves in God! God made and created us, but Christ has personally revealed the Father to those who repent and come to Him.

• think about all the knowledge that has been added from the time of the apostles until now
• think about all the things that we understand concerning the book of Revelation
• think about all the things that God has given to us
• think about the time that God has given to us:
  • to learn
  • to change
  • to grow
  • to overcome
    • think about how we need to be:
• diligently doing that
• diligently following God
• enthusiastically loving God
• keeping His commandments
• doing what is right

That's what's pleasing to God!

Let's look at the wise and intelligent, the ones that God appointed to be priests, Levites and elders of the community, that is the seniors or elders in the community, not elders in the sense of ministers.

John 12:37: "Although He had done so many miracles in their presence, they did not believe in Him, so that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled who said, 'Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?' For this very reason they could not believe because again Isaiah said, 'He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, and be converted, and I would heal them'" (vs 37-40).

How is God going to give eternal life to anyone who believes if He cuts them off from believing? And they live and die, or they've never had an opportunity to understand? They lived in an age when none of these things took place.

Verse 42: "But even so, many among the rulers believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, so that they wouldnot be put out of the synagogue… [political; wrong thinking] …for they loved the glory of men more than the glory of God. Then Jesus called out and said, 'The one who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him Who sent Me " (vs 42-44)—the Father!

Verse 45: "And the one who sees Me sees Him Who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. But if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the Word, which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the last day" (vs 45-48).

There again, "…the last day…" and The Last Great Day connect together. Has God given us more understanding about the Holy Days than the Apostle Paul? Think about that! The one who wrote 14 Epistles for the New Testament and the one who was responsible for 40% of the New Testament when you count the book of Acts and the book of Luke.

Do we? Not because of who we are, but because of what God has given and revealed to us in the way of understanding! We only understand these things with the Spirit of God. One of the keys is to look at the whole overall picture. At different times there were different things that were understood.

Another hard thing to understand is, especially with Paul, he was grieving that he wanted his own countrymen to believe, but they didn't. He said, 'God cut them off the olive tree.' As Paul said, 'The root bears the tree, not the tree the root.'

What God did was to fulfill the plan that he prophesied of, and took the Gentiles who are called a wild olive tree, and cut the branches off and grafted them into the good olive tree, so that they likewise could participate in the plan of God. Up to that time they had no part of it in this way.

Romans 11:25—concerning the Gentiles: "For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this mystery, brethren, in order that you may not be wise in your own conceits: that a partial hardening of the heart has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved…" (vs 25-26). How can all Israel be saved?

Paul knew that, but he didn't know how, and he didn't know when. He just quotes a Scripture.

"…according as it is written: 'Out of Sion shall come the Deliverer, and He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. for this is My covenant, which I will make with them when I have taken away their sins.' On the one hand, concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes; but on the other hand, concerning the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes" (vs 26-28)—showing that even though God blinded them, He's never cut off Israel totally!

Verse 29: "Because the gifts and the calling of God are never revoked. For just as you once did not believe God, but have now been shown mercy through their unbelief, in the same way also, they have not believed at this time in order that through the mercy shown to you, they also may have mercy shown to them" (vs 29-31). When?

Verse 32: "For God has given them all over to unbelief in order that He might show mercy to all." But when? Paul did not know! He just knew that it would be! Now we know that it will be, and we also know when!

Verse 33: "O the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments and unsearchable are His ways! For who did know the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who first gave to Him, and it shall be recompensed to him again? For from Him, and through Him, and unto Him are all things; to Him be the glory into the ages of eternity. Amen" (vs 33-36).

So, Paul said that it's going to happen, but I don't know when! That's a fantastic thing! Look at how many people that were once attending with us:

• Where are they?
• Did they 'hold fast' to the knowledge?
• What happened to them?
• Where are they going?
• What is going to take place?

Let's see what's going to happen on this The Last Great Day! It is what you might say is the least of all, it's mentioned the eighth day several times. It's called The Last Great Day by Jesus (John 7). But what does it mean? That answer that is given by keeping the day! When we put the Scriptures together, rightly divide the Word of God, and understand what the Scriptures say.

John 5—this is quite a statement, and think on this. This day helps answer the question: when? Many people think they know about the resurrection, the first coming of Christ; that's true! But notice what Jesus says:

John 5:24: "Truly, truly I say to you, the one who hears My Word, and believes Him…" you have to hear:

• His Word
• His message
• His Truth
• Everything that He taught

Remember, Jesus said, 'The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life!' Then with the Spirit of God that He gives us, we can understand the Truth of God. Can't be any other way. This is part of the mystery of God, the secret of God. It's a 'glory to God to hide something, and it's honor to the king to uncover it.' That's what we're doing here!

"…hears My Word, and believes Him…" (v 24)—the Father, because every word that Jesus spoke was what the Father commanded. Jesus didn't bring anything of Himself. He said so right here:

Verse 30: "I have no power to do anything of Myself…" Think of that with Him saying that as the very 'only Begotten Son of God the Father.' Think about how helpless, compared to that, we are! That's why we have to believe in the Father.

Verse 24: "…believes Him Who sent Me, has everlasting life…" This belief means:

• to hear
• to obey
• to love

"…and does not come into judgment; for he has passed from death into life" (v 24). If you have the Holy Spirit of God, you have passed from the second death into eternal life. It's given to all men and women once to die, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, which then genetically is passed on to every one of us.

Verse 25: "Truly, truly I say to you…"—speaking to the scribes and Pharisees and those who were in charge at the temple. He's right there at the temple.

"…the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead… [already in the ground] …shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live" (v 25).

• He doesn't tell us when!
• He doesn't tell us who!
• He doesn't tell us how!

Verse 26: "For even as the Father has life in Himself, so also has He given to the Son to have life in Himself, and has also given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of man. Do not wonder at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth: those who have practiced good unto a resurrection of life… [the first resurrection to eternal life] …and those who have practiced evil unto a resurrection of judgment" (vs 26-29). That's what this Last Great Day pictures.

If you lived a life where you didn't know Christ, and you lived and died, what are you going to be judged on? The judgment is going to come in two phases:

• those who have not sinned a sin unto death
• those who have committed the unpardonable sin

When will those not in the first resurrection be raised from the dead? That's not answered until John wrote the book of Revelation!

Rev. 20:5 is a parenthetical statement. We know that Paul tells us in 1-Cor. 15 that all of those who are Christ's, which through the vision of transfiguration Jesus showed that it's going to also be the patriarchs and the prophets: Moses, all the patriarchs, Elijah, all the prophets standing at the right and left hand of God in the vision of the Transfiguration on the mountain with Peter, James and John, and they saw that.

Revelation 20:5: "(But the rest of the dead… [who are not in the first resurrection] …did not live again until the thousand years were completed.)…." That's when it's going to take place!

• Who?
• How is that going to be?
• What is God going to do with that?
• How is God going to complete His Word?

Matthew 12:30: "The one who is not with Me is against Me…" There's another category where He says that 'those who are not against us are on our part' (Luke 9). So, you have two categories there.

"…and the one who does not gather with Me scatters. Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men" (vs 30-31).

Why? Because that's an incorrigible rejection of God the Father! He's the One Who gives the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit comes in two parts:

• the begettal for eternal life from the Father
• the Spirit of Christ to bring us the mind of Christ

The two together complete the Spirit of God within us to convert our mind and heart! If that is rejected, and God is forced to withdraw His Spirit from that person, that is the unpardonable sin!

Verse 32: "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit… [coming from God the Father] …it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming age"—to understand about the rest of the dead!

We're living in an age that is coming to a completion. Then the thousand year reign begins and all of those who died up to that point—who have not committed the unpardonable sin—let's see what happens.

"…but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming age" (v 32).

Let's understand something very important. God didn't give the Holy Spirit to people in general until the beginning of the Church in 30A.D. at the temple on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came.
"…neither in this age nor in the coming age" (v 32). There are two ages that are coming:

• the Millennium

But there are only going to be so many that are going to live over into that age!

• The Last Great Day

That comes after the Millennium!

We really need to understand how all of this is going to be. Some people may ask if that's going to include all the Gentiles.

Verse 38: "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'Master, we desire to see a sign from You.' And He answered and said to them, 'A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh shall stand up…" (vs 38-41).

• What about Nineveh?
• Why did He use Jonah?

Because Jonah came and preached them, 'Repent because God is going to destroy you.' They repented! It held off the judgment of God for 120 years!

Verse 41: "The men of Nineveh shall stand up…" What did Jesus say? All who are in the grave shall hear My voice and come out! Stand up here means stand up in a resurrection!

"…stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here… [come forward a little further]: …The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here" (vs 41-42).

• What's going to happen when the rest of the dead are raised?
• How is that going to be?

There are two classes of those who are going to be raised. Those who have not committed the unpardonable sin, every sin except that will be forgiven in the coming age! Let's look a the coming age. After Satan has his judgment and is cast into the Lake of Fire, then later into 'the blackest darkness forever.'

Revelation 20:11: "Then I saw a great white throne and the one Who was sitting on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead… [raised back to life] …small and great, standing before God; and the books were opened…" (vs 11-12).

'Yes, you did not commit the unpardonable sin. You now have life.' And we'll see what kind of life in just a little bit.

"…and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life…." (v 12). So, this is saying that now they have a chance for salvation, anyone—though he died previously and was buried and is now resurrected—who believes in Him shall not perish but receive everlasting life.

So the timing goes way beyond the instance in which the words were given. That's how God works things in many cases.

"…And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works" (v 12).

The wages of sin—any sin—is death. So, if they're judged out of what they did in their first life—even though they didn't commit the unpardonable sin—they still would have to be executed because they had not kept the Word of God the way that it should be.

What goes on here? We'll see this in just a few minutes and let's see what God is going to do, because this is absolutely fantastic!

(go to the next track)

Brethren, let's understand something really, really important. What a great and marvelous thing that it is that God has granted this understanding. Not because of who we are, or what we are, or where we have come from, because Jesus said, 'The Father reveals these things to babes.

Always remember not to get lifted up in anything that we do, or what we believe, or that we become carnal and start comparing ourselves among ourselves and other people. What we need to do is keep our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ all the time. And realize that what an awesome, awesome plan God has that He has hidden it in plain sight—in His Bible, His Word—and the vast majority of people have absolutely not a clue as to what God is doing, even those in the Christianity of this world.

I want you to think about this for a minute. Let's just take the current generation in which we live. There are about 7.5-billion people in the world. How many know why they were born? On a percentage basis you couldn't even calculate it. It is so few! That fulfills another prophecy: many are called but few are chosen!

• Few are chosen because few repent!
• Few are chosen because few endure to the end!

Here we are on The Last Great Day and God has opened up the vastness of the understanding of His awesome plan to His people. The Jews who came back from the Holocaust look upon Ezek. 37 as an allegory of those who came out of the Holocaust and returned to the Holy Land. They read this and say that it's an allegory for that. But it's way beyond that.

Men cannot understand without the Spirit of God! The Spirit of God must reveal these things. It's up to us to retain these things so that those who come after us will learn as well. Quite an amazing thing that God has done! I want you to think about it. Every single one of us have a part in carrying out the plan of God, especially attaining to the first resurrection!

We're going to read about the second resurrection. Notice the difference between this and 1-Cor. 15; quite a difference.

Ezekiel 37:1: "The hand of the LORD was on me, and brought me by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of a valley, and it was full of bones." If you have bones, that means that people have died!

Verse 2: "And He made me walk among them all around. And behold, very many were in the open valley. And lo, they were very dry…. [they've been dead for a long time] …And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know'" (vs 2-3).

They show on the History Channel where people are examining the skulls and looking at the legs and ribs, figuring out how this person died. Why is the head shaped in that way? All of that sort of thing.

Verse 4: "Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live'"'" (vs 4-5).

Here's a perfect example of stating in the Bible first what you're going to do, and then do it!

Verse 6: "And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you…"—not spirit! What does this tell us? A second life in the flesh! Why? We'll see in just a minute!

"…and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the LORD" (v 6).

In other words, previously they may have heard of Him, but they didn't know Him! That's why we, in our conversion experience, are to come to know God the Father and Jesus Christ:

• through prayer
• through study
• through living
• through overcoming

Verse 7: "So, I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise. And behold, a shaking! And the bones came together, a bone to its bone. And as I watched… [just standing there watching it] …behold the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above. But there was no breath in them" (vs 7-8).

Just like it was with Adam when God created him! God had to breathe into Adam's nostrils the breath of life! Same thing here, only this is a second time!

Verse 9: "And He said to me, 'Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live.'"'"

For what purpose? We saw in Rev. 20 for the purpose of attaining salvation! They never had the opportunity in their first life! Quite an amazing thing that God would do this.

Verse 10: "So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army."

It says in Rev. 20 that the dead, when they came up, there were so many there was no room for them. I wonder how many billions of people that's going to be? When you measure that against the universe. The trillions and trillions of things out there in the universe, regardless of how many it may be, and the final plan and everything of God being carried out, after they receive conversion, is going to be awesome indeed!

Of course, he's wondering, what is this? Look at all these people! They're alive! They were the dry bones a little bit ago. So, he's probably wondering, 'Who are they?' So, God tells him:

Verse 11: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel….'" What did Paul say? All Israel shall be saved! Fantastic! Here it is right before our eyes!

"…Behold, they say… [they have consciousness] …'Our bones are dried and our hope is lost; we ourselves are completely cut off.'" (v 11)—because of their sins! But they didn't commit the unpardonable sin, nor did they have an opportunity for salvation, because Christ did not come. Either all of Israel before His first coming and all of those who were never called at His second coming.

As we saw with the Ninevites and the Queen of the South that the Gentiles are going to experience the same thing because Jesus said that they will rise up with this generation and condemn it! But all of that will be forgotten.

Verse 12: "Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves…"'" The bones out there on the ground weren't in the grave, were they? No, they weren't!

This was done to show Ezekiel exactly what God was going to do.

"…and will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your graves, O My people, and have brought you up out of your graves" (vs 12-13). They were dead! They were in their graves! Likewise with all of the Gentiles.

Think of that! Think of all the people that's going to be. That's way beyond anything we can imagine! But you talk about a wonderful master plan that God has. He saves the greatest until the last, and He hides it in His Word and doesn't tell anybody about it! Yet:

• He had Ezekiel write this amount of it
• He Matthew write what he wrote about it
• He had Paul write what he wrote about it
• He had all the apostles write what they wrote about it

Yet, they couldn't understand it until the Apostle John, the last living apostle. Yes, when he canonized the New Testament, the other old apostles of Andrew, Mark, Timothy, Philip and Bartholomew who were there with John. They finished the New Testament.

Think how this has been given to us in this age, to where we can comprehend this as never before. Not because of our own ability, but because of the Word of God, the Spirit of God, the Truth of God. Our responsibility is to rightly divide the Word of God so that we can see the whole picture. Here it is!

Verse 13: "And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your graves, O My people, and have brought you up out of your graves. And I shall put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. And you shall know that I the LORD have spoken it and have done it,' says the LORD'" (vs 13-14).

• think about what that's going to be like
• think about what it's going to be like with all those innocent children:
  • aborted
  • killed early
  • died of sickness
  • died of disease
  • plagues
  • famine
    • Think about what it's going to be like for all those resurrected who were destroyed through the Flood.

God says that all who have not committed the unpardonable sin will receive forgiveness. When they receive forgiveness, then the judgment to eternal life starts for them, and they are going to live a hundred years. Just like we found in Isa. 65 for those during the Millennium.

• Can anyone ever say that God is not fair?
• Can anyone ever say that God is not loving?
• To undo every death!
• To give them life!
• To give them an opportunity for salvation!

What a thing that is going to be!

Brethren, all of those who came into the Kingdom of God to receive eternal life during the Millennium, and those of us who are in the first resurrection, are going to be the ones:

• who will teach them
• who will help them
• who will show them the way

There are going to be some people that have a lot of stuff to repent of! They'll all be forgiven. Whether they will accept salvation or not is another story.

Rev. 20 shows what God is going to do with the incorrigible wicked. It says that those who have sinned are going to be raised to a life of condemnation and judgment. What's going to happen to them? God says in His Word, and shows that it is absolutely true, that those who commit the unpardonable sin have to die twice! Their final judgment will be all together, because Satan has already been bound and removed.

All those who come up in the second resurrection who have not committed the unpardonable sin are not going to have to lead another life under Satan the devil. Don't you think once is enough? God thinks so! Now they will have all that wiped away. A fresh start! Their names will be entered into the Book of Life when they repent and are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, because God says that He's going to put His Spirit into them.

What about all the incorrigible wicked? Revelation 20:13: "And the sea gave up the dead that were in it…" We don't know how many that is. You look at some of these programs today on NatGeo where they have drained the water away and in harbors are all these sunken ships. How many died!

"…and death and the grave gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged individually, according to their works" (v 13).

The first part of the second resurrection is for those who didn't commit the unpardonable sin. That's what Matt. 12 is telling us about. They will be forgiven in the age that is coming.

But those who do commit the unpardonable sin will not be forgiven in that age, and here is the end of that age, when all the incorrigible wicked are raised together.

Verse 14: "And death and the grave were cast into the Lake of Fire…."

Sidebar: the King James says that 'death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire.' Well, if hell is ever-burning, how can an ever-burning hell be cast into a Lake of Fire? The word is 'hades' meaning grave! That's why!

"…This is the second death" (v 14). If you died twice, what has to happen? You have to live twice! Except like those in the case like Lazarus and those who were raised back to physical life after Jesus ascended to heaven at Jerusalem.

Verse 15: "And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire."

What happens when you're cast into the Lake of Fire? You are burned up! In this case, no more record of you. That's God's final judgment!

When that happens, as we have read in 1-Pet. 3, the whole earth is going to be consumed, because this Lake of Fire is going to consume the whole earth to prepare it for the new heaven and the new earth.

Here is the great phase of God's plan: No more human beings, all spirit beings! Let's see into eternity and what it's going to be like.

Revelation 21:1: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea."
Why do we need the sea or the ocean? Because we're human beings, and in order to modify the temperature on the earth! As spirit beings the temperature will not affect us, so we don't need it.

Verse 2: "And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven say, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God…'" (vs 2-3). That's what the Feast of Tabernacles is all about: to dwell with God!

"…is with men…"—men and women made perfect; sons and daughters of God; spirit beings with spirit bodies and spirit minds! What's that going to be like?

"…and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God" (v 3). We can come to God personally! directly! individually, one-to-one! Think about what that's going to be like!

Verse 4: "'And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be anymore death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away.'…. [no longer here] …And He Who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'…." (vs 4-5). Have to be made new for all the spirit beings! All things!

You talk about a great and a fantastic work! I can hardly wait until they get this new James Webb telescope up there in space and take their pictures, and just focus in a dark place in the universe. Like they did when the Hubble first went up there. They got pictures of stars out in the universe they could see because they were so far away. It blew their minds! Think about what this going to be, because God's new heaven and new earth is going to be so fantastic! So unbelievable!

Verse 5: "And He Who sits on the throne said… [proclamation from God] …'Behold, I make all things new.' Then He said to me 'Write…'"

God wants it written down; He doesn't want guesswork for anybody. That's why we have the Word of God.

"'…for these words are true and faithful.'" (v 5). No lie in any of God's Word. There are some thing in there that men have changed. But they can't change the Word of God 'en touto' No, they can sort of nibble around the fringe to satisfy their own denominational nonsense.

Why would they do that if it's Truth? Why would they not want to spend their time seeking out the Truth of God, instead of trying to justify what they believe? Why not believe what God has given to us? So, they're written down as a witness for the whole world! It's Truth to the people of God to give us hope!

Verse 6: "And He said to me, 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life.'" What is that going to be like? I don't know what's that going to be like! A continuous addition of the Holy Spirit down through time?

Verse 7: "The one who overcomes…" That's why we have all the difficulties we have today.

We sit around and wonder why we have this and that, and pity-party me! No! Every one of those things are trials for us to overcome. So, we take them all to God and say to Christ, 'This burden is greater than me, help me to bear it, and You said, take your burden because it's light and easy. Help us to do that so that we can come to this place.'

"…shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death'" (vs 7-8).

No one is going to sneak in who shouldn't be there. No spies! No fakes!

Verse 9: "And one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, and I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife.'" He's going to show where the Bride will be in New Jerusalem. That's for the Bride.

Verse 10: "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God…." (vs 10-11).

What's that going to be like? All of us there in the city of New Jerusalem. We're all assemble and here it is. Now is the time that God the Father is sending your permanent living place in New Jerusalem. There's a place in that city where your new name is registered. That is your eternal abode. You will come and go as you do the work of God, from that place.

"…And her radiance was like a most precious stone, as crystal-clear as jasper stone. And the city also had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (vs 11-12).

All the gates are laid out the way that the tribes were centered around the tabernacle. Type and antitype.

Verse 14: "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and written on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Forever we're going to remember eternal life came because of Jesus Christ, and the 12 apostles that He chose! That's fantastic!

Verse 16: "And the city lies foursquare, for its length is as long as its breadth. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand furlongs; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits; the angel's measure was according to a man's…. [a cubic is 18 inches] …And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone…" (vs 16-19).

Then he lists all the precious stones one after the other. What a beautiful thing that is going be! Beauty, color, radiance, eternal life, happiness and joy! No pain, no suffering, no disappointments, no lying, no cheating; none of this! And all on the great mission to complete God's plan into the universe, which is greater than what we're even reading here! What we're reading here is kind of like 'a drop in the bucket.'

Verse 21: "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates respectively was a single pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent as glass." I can't fathom that!

Verse 22: "And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city has no need of the sun, or of the moon… [doesn't say that they won't be there, but it doesn't need it] …that they should shine in it; because the glory of God enlightens it, and the Light of it is the Lamb" (vs 22-23).

We're going to have continuous spiritual renewal, continuously forever! What is that going to be like?

• that's why we're called
• that's why we're here
• this is why we do what we do

This is why down through the centuries—regardless of what happened, regardless of the circumstances: trial, loss of life, loss of head or the killing and slaying because we were hated by the establishments of this world and hated by Satan the devil—he can never overcome us because of the resurrection! And this is what God is going to give us!

Verse 24: "And the nations that are saved shall walk in its light; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it…. [that's what we'll be doing] …And its gates shall never be shut by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it…. [then He gives another promise]: …And nothing that defiles… [no more sin] …shall ever enter into it, nor shall anyone who practices an abomination or devises a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (vs 24-27).

Can you imagine living there? having that kind of life?

Rev. 22 finishes off the Bible. It's interesting that the Bible starts with the Tree of Life, and it ends with the Tree of Life. I'm the First and the Last, the Beginning and the Ending, Alpha and Omega!

Revelation 22:1: "Then he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. And in the middle of the street, and on this side and that side of the river, was the Tree of Life, producing twelve manner of fruits, each month yielding its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."

Continuous healing for those learning, growing and overcoming. The word here is 'therapeuon' meaning for the maintenance, the maintaining of the spiritual qualities that God has given to us! That we never lose them! That we live forever! This is the guarantee of it:

Verse 3: "And there shall be no more curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face…" (vs 3-4).

What's it going to be like to see the face of God? Remember, He told Moses that he could live on His face and live. 'Get over here in a little corner and I'll show you My backside, but you can't look on My face.' Here is:

"…they shall see His face, and His name is in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; for they have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God enlightens them; and… [How long will this be?]: …they shall reign into the ages of eternity" (vs 4-5).

On and on and on in joy, happiness, love, work, truth, building, making, helping to make the universe. We won't need big telescopes to look out there to try and see and wonder what that is out there. We'll know!

Verse 6: "And he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true… [God cannot lie!] …and the Lord God of the Holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things that must shortly come to pass.'" In God's time plan is shortly!

Verse 7: "Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." That's the whole Bible! This book of Revelation and every aspect of everything in the whole of the Bible within the book of Revelation. So, it applies to the book and the whole Bible!

Verse 8: "Now I, John, was the one who saw and heard these things…." Peter said, 'What about this one over here, Lord?' Jesus said, 'What is it to you? What if I desire that he remain alive until he sees Me coming?' He did in vision!

"…And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who was showing me these things. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do this! For I am a fellow servant of yours, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.'" (vs 8-9). That's what we're going to do!

Verse 10: "And he said to me, 'Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book because the time is near.'" He didn't seal it!

But God has to open our eyes to it, because our eyes may not see it unless we have the Spirit of God and rightly divide the Word of God to understand how it's going to be!

Verse 11: "Let the one who is unrighteous be unrighteous still; and let the one who is filthy be filthy still; and let the one who is righteous be righteous still; and let the one who is Holy be Holy still. 'And behold, I am coming quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who keep His commandments…'" (vs 11-14).

• Protestants out there, what on earth are you going to do with this verse?
• Do you think with your Sunday-keeping that you're ever going to enter into the Kingdom of God?

Think about that!

"…that they may have the right to eat of the Tree of Life, and may enter by the gates into the city. But excluded… [left out] …are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and devises a lie." (v 14). Think about that:

• truth forever
• love forever
• hope forever
• spiritual life forever

Into the ages of eternity!

This is what God is working with us, for us, holding out to us, showing us and teaching us. This is why this day is The Last Great Day!

Verse 16: "I, Jesus, sent My angel to testify these things to you in the churches…" All the churches; we're to know and understand. The world won't know! The world won't understand! But when it comes down to the time that it gets here, they will have understanding. But now it's for the churches only. It's very interesting that He didn't say church.

"…'I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.' And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.'…. [that Spirit is Christ[ …And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who thirsts come; and let the one who desires partake of the water of life freely. For I jointly testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book… [not only Revelation, but the whole Bible] …that if anyone adds to these things, God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book" (vs 16-18).

It might do well for everyone to re-read those on occasion.

Verse 19: "And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life…"

All those out there who are handling the Word of God better be careful. You need the Truth, the Truth, the Truth!Not anything of man, but all of God!

"…and from the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book. He Who testifies these things says, 'Surely, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (vs 19-21).

There we have the meaning of The Last Great Day! The grand finale of the awesome plan of God, which began with Adam and Eve, and all the rest of us from a speck of dust to a son of God! What promises and blessings!

I'm glad you came to the Feast, and I hope you go home inspired and uplifted, and to serve God in a more dedicated and loving way than ever before!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:33-34, 36

• John 7:37-39
• John 3:16
• Matthew 13:14-17
• Matthew 11:24-27
• John 12:37-40, 42-48
• Romans 11:25-36
• John 5:24, 30, 24-29
• Revelation 20:5
• Matthew 12:30-32, 38-42
• Revelation 20:11-12
• Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Revelation 20:13-15
• Revelation 21:1-12, 14, 16-27
• Revelation 22:1-21

Scriptures quoted, not referenced:

• Genesis 15; 3:15

• Romans 1
• 1 Corinthians 15
• Luke 9
• 1 Peter 3

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/30/18

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