App
Day 5—Feast of Tabernacles
The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the seas cover the earth!
Fred R. Coulter—October 18, 2019
Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 5 of the Feast of Tabernacles. What is it going to be like to be living in a nearly perfect world?
That's going to be something we need to think on, and how it's going to be during the Millennium. Let's come to a verse that is applied to today, but let's see that it's going to apply all during the Millennium.
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world…" The age we're living in, God loves it and wants to save it. He wants to save those who are in it. Of course, we know that there are requirements to being saved!
"…that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him…" (v 16).
Christ came nearly 2,000 years ago, and there's almost 4,000 years of history before that. After He comes the second time, there's another 1,000 years of history that's going to be the great end-time harvest as pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles then it goes on into the Last Great Day, and this verse also applies to that time, as well. It will be the greatest harvest of all!
"…so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish…" (v 16). Let's see the difference between dying and perishing! Those who die in Christ are called asleep!
Paul writes of the resurrection of the dead, because there were those who were saying that there is no resurrection, that the only resurrection was Christ and all the rest are souls going to heaven.
1-Corinthians 15:16: "For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. But if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins, and those who have fallen asleep in Christ have then perished" (vs 16-18).
Death is not perishing; death is falling asleep! Perishing is that you no longer exist!That's what it means in John 3, which reaches back in time through the second resurrection, and reaches forward in time beginning with the ministry of Christ to His second return. It reaches further in time for another 1,000 years so that there will be brought into the Kingdom of God.
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the Millennium when everything will be nearly perfect. Not quite, but nearly.
John 3:16[transcriber's correction]: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone…"
- all of those who we have talked about here have never had a chance
- all of those before the first coming of Christ never had a chance
- all of those who were not called never had a chance
So, this has to apply, yet, to the majority of people!
"…who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life" (v 16).
Psa. 22 is about the crucifixion of Christ, and His very thoughts while He was there on the cross dying, suffering, in great pain and agony. What did He do? He kept His mind and focus on God's purpose, on God the Father and why He was there! Christ laid His life down willingly!
Psalm 22:22: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You." That's the Church now, but it's also going to be all during the Millennium and the Great
White Throne Judgment!
- the name of Christ
- who He is
- what He is
- what He did
- how we receive salvation
- how other people can receive salvation at that time
That's why Jesus said at His first coming that those who are blinded were blinded so they wouldn't be converted at that time. Their day is yet to come!
Verse 23: "You who fear the LORD, praise Him; all of you, the seed of Jacob… [that's all the Church, all of Israel during the Millennium] …glorify Him; and stand in awe of Him all of you, the seed of Israel."
What did Paul write of those of us who are in the Church? Was not Israel the seed of Abraham? Yes, indeed! Those who are Christ's are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise!
Verse 24: "For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and He has not hidden His face from him, but when he cried to Him, He heard." Christ calling out to the Father, and us calling out to Christ!
Verse 25: "From You comes my praise in the great congregation…" He is going to be praised over and over again all through the Millennium!
The great congregation here is those in the first resurrection! It applies that way, but it also applies to all of those who are converted during the Millennium, which will be the majority of people, and they will be living in a near perfect world!
Verse 26: "The meek shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD shall praise Him; may your heart live forever…. [eternal life] …All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD… [all during the Millennium and into the White Throne Judgment] …and all the families of the nations shall worship before You." (vs 26-27).
Think about what it's going to be like for Sabbath services during the Millennium. They will start just about like they do today. East of the landmass of which Jerusalem is the center, then the Sabbath comes all the way around the world. Then there's the ending of the Sabbath all around the world. Think about what that's going to be like:
- in love
- in truth
- in praise
- in righteousness
To God!
Verse 28: "For the kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations." Let's show that that includes us!
We know that in Rev. 20 it says that we will live and reign with Christ a thousand years. But Rev. 2 shows that that ruling over all nations is going to also be given to us to do.
Revelation 2:26—to the Church at Thyatira: "And to the one who overcomes and keeps My works unto the end…"
This is true in every era of salvation. This is the Church Era of Salvation, then it will be the Millennial Era of Salvation, then the Great White Throne Judgment of Salvation. Everyone will have, in the different eras of salvation different rewards, but here in the first resurrection:
"…I will give authority over the nations. And he shall shepherd them with an iron rod…" (vs 26-27). There isn't going to be any changing of the laws like they do today and develop a lawless society!
How do you like the world today that is run by lawless people, lawless judges, lawless ministers, lawless rulers: senators, congressmen, representatives, governors. Too many are lawless, but not then!
"…as vessels of pottery are broken in pieces; as I have also received from My Father" (v 27). They will have power according to the Word of God to execute judgment upon those who rebel!
Verse 28: "And I will give him the morning star…. [the resurrection and eternal life] …The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (vs 28-29).
That will be nearly the same when it comes to the people during the Millennium. They have to hear and listen!
Psalm 22:30: "A seed shall serve Him; it shall be told of the LORD to the coming generation. They shall come and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall yet be born, that He [Christ] has done this" (vs 30-31)—and of course, the Father!
Very profound and interesting! It's going to be a great and marvelous time during the Millennium. There is going to be
- the rule of the saints
- the Truth of God
- the blessing of God
Overwhelming blessings! Think about this living in a near perfect world: they're all going to keep the commandments of God! There will be sinners, and we will deal with that a little later. But they will also have an opportunity to repent and be redeemed. But think of this way: If the people were able to live in your city and you carried out your responsibilities the way that God wants you to, that you would teach your city:
- to love God the Father, first
- to love Jesus Christ, second
of course:
- there won't be any other gods before the people
- there will be no idols
- they won't take the name of God in vain
- they will always remember the Sabbath
God made the Sabbath, because the human mind needs to be taught—the lessons reinforced, expanded and multiplied—every seven days!That's why God made the Sabbath, so we can come before God! All nations are going to be doing that.
Isaiah 45:18: "For thus says the LORD the Creator of the heavens, He Himself is God…" People are going to understand about God as never before in the history of the world!
It's going to be multiplied, taught and revealed. Think about what we're going to learn to be able to teach those whom we are able to serve, to bring more concerning the love of God and the Truth of God, and so forth.
"…Who formed the earth and made it; He has established it. He created it not in vain, but formed it to be inhabited. 'I am the LORD, and there is no other'" (v 18). We're going to be preaching that:
- every day
- every Sabbath
- every Passover
- every Holy Day
all through the Millennium!
Verse 19: "I have not spoken in secret…" At that time it's going to be: 'Hey, the saints are here ruling' in truth, love and understanding and it's not in secret! The proclamations of God will be heard all the time, and we will be teaching and reinforcing them.
"…in a dark place of the earth. I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain.' I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped of the nations…" (vs 19-20).
Those from Israel and also the others. Those who are all captive to the Beast Power are all going to be released. So, a lot of these Scriptures that we read that apply to Israel will then expand out to all nations of the world.
"…they have no knowledge who carry the wood of their graven image, and those who pray to a god that cannot save" (v 20). Those are all going to be gone! Destroyed! Smashed! Obliterated!
Verse 21: "Declare and bring near; yea, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this of old?…."
That's going to be something! We have the Word of God, plus whatever else God wants to give us in the way of the knowledge of God to augment what we have with the Bible. The Bible is the bare necessity of what we need in this age. But what is it going to be like when it's layered with more and more understanding?
"…Who has told it from ancient times? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me; a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. Turn to Me, and be saved…" (vs 21-22)—going right back to John 3:16! Only this time the devil won't be around, the demons won't be around.
The Truth of God will be everywhere. People will be rejoicing and be happy. There is going to be a nearly perfect society! We already covered about the relationship of the first four commandments to God. What about the other commandments? Honor your father and mother! Loving and obedient and brilliant children fulfilling the greatest purpose of their lives. Being taught all about God from the time that they're able to hear.
We're going to be the ones doing the teaching! And God is going to be teaching us. So, it's going to be a fantastic time!
"…all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not turn back, that unto Me every knee… [everyone] …shall bow, every tongue shall swear" (vs 22-23).
Take some of these statements through the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment.
Verse 24: "One shall say, 'Only in the LORD do I have righteousness and strength…'"—because they're going to learn and understand that in God they live, move and have their being! The only way that there is any righteousness is through God!
Think about the conversion of the people at that time, and the abundance of God's Spirit! That's going to be magnificent, indeed!
"'…even to Him shall men come. And they are ashamed, all who are angry against Him.'" (v 24). So, there's going to be repenting!
We're gong to have to deal with people who sin, and the easiest way to help them not to sin is to be teaching them the Word of God and having them draw close to God to receive of God's Spirit, to be strengthened with God's Spirit, etc.
Verse 25: "In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory."
Isaiah 66:10: "'Rejoice with Jerusalem…" Remember how Jerusalem is going to have the big tabernacle there. Not a temple. Ezek. 40 to the end of the book is not about the Millennial temple. This is going to be fantastic because God is going to be there Himself! There's going to be the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night all during the Millennium.
"'…and be glad with her, all who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all who mourn for her… [it's not going to be any mourning, or anything like it is today] …that you may suck and be satisfied with her breasts of consolations…" (vs 10-11).
This is expressing the comfort that God is going to give; the same comfort that a mother who nursing her child is giving: closeness, love, nourishment! All of this and this will be:
- spiritual nourishment
- spiritual food
- spiritual understanding
"'…that you may milk out and be delighted with the fullness of her glory.' For thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like a flowing stream…." (vs 11-12)—coming into Jerusalem!
It's going to be a time of fabulous wealth, fabulous understanding, great things that will be done, using the mind properly:
- learning
- growing
- building
- devising
- making
All with the blessing of God! The near perfect world!
"'…Then you will suck thereof, you will be carried upon her sides and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem'" (vs 12-13).
Let's extend this to all in the Millennium. Think about what it's going to be like during the Great White Throne Judgment. It's going to be astonishing!
Verse 14: "And you will see, and your heart will rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the grass. And the hand of the LORD will be known toward His servants, and His fury toward His enemies."
There will be a few enemies during the Millennium. We'll cover that in just a little bit. Now, we've covered Isa. 65 before, but we need to understand that this applies to the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment.
Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…." Once that's established, it's going to be blessed, wonderful and magnificent!
The world is going to be a tremendously different place! All of the deserts will bloom meaning that the climate is going to be changed. The whole environment is going to be changed. The nature of animals is going to be changed, as we have seen.
"…And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind…. [it's going to be so great it's going to be blotted out] …But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; 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 17-19). Isn't that something?
- think about all the sorrow today
- think about all the difficulties that people have today
- think about all the troubles that they go through: murder, killing, accidents, etc.
all of those things today that cause:
- sorrow
- wretchedness
- anguish
- anger
- hatred
- bitterness
Compare this to what it is today with all the abortion that is taking place! It is really getting down right evil!
Verse 20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days…" No abortion! No untimely deaths of infants!
God wants lots and lots of children, and God is going to make it so that it will not have the pain and the sorrow that it has today.
"…nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old…" (v 20). In other words, it's born and lives to be 100-years-old!
We're going to see that if they accept salvation they will enter into the Family of God. If they reject salvation then here's what it says:
"…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20)—no salvation with that!
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" (vs 21-22)—the elect of those people who accept Christ!
This is not talking about us, because at that time we will all be spirit beings. We're going to have the work of our hands, and the teaching that we will do. That's why it's very important, brethren, that you do all you can to grow in grace and knowledge; study and learn! As you know, we have provided so many things. You get out our catalog and go through what we have with:
- the Bible
- the books
- the booklets
- the study papers
- the transcript books
and make a systematic use of going through to understand so that:
- you can grow in grace and knowledge
- you will be preparing for eternal life
to take on this mission of serving the whole world!
What a fantastic thing! Don't you want to learn more about the:
- Love of God?
- Grace of God?
- Truth of God?
- Commandments of God?
and all that that will bring?
Verse 23: "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."
Remember what it said of Jesus; Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father…"
What we're reading about here is the work of the Bride and The Everlasting Father, and those of the Millennium that we are ruling over, reining, teaching and training. It's going to be a wonderful relationship. These are going to be presented to the Father. What a fantastic thing that is going to be!
Isaiah 65:24: "And it shall come to pass, before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear."
How is that going to be? Because we will be there! We will hear their prayers, with the authority of Christ, and we will give the answer that God wants us to give. But it's all going to God!
Verse 25: "The wolf and the lamb will feed together…" A woman wrote me and said, 'When you look at the picture of what the Millennium is going to be like, it's a little boy and lion and the lion shall feed with the lamb.' That is incorrect! It is the wolf and the lamb!
"'…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."
That's quite a thing for us to really grasp and understand in how that's going to be. It's amazing how much is in Isaiah and the Psalms concerning the Millennium.
We're all part of this, and when we read Isa. 43, God is saying that He's doing this and doing that, we are all a part of that doing and making it happen.
Isaiah 43:18: "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall sprout; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field shall honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people that I formed for Myself…" (vs 18-21).
Remember what Paul said in Col. 1? He said that he was in straits because of the difficulty that the brethren were going through! In Gal. 4 he said that it's difficult, and you need to have Christ formed in you!
This is what it's talking about here. This is talking about us and what we will be doing. This is a great thing to understand.
Verse 21: "This people that I formed for Myself… [resurrected from the dead and made to be kings and priests and rule the whole world with Christ] …they shall declare My praise."
That's going to be a magnificent thing for us to do. I want you to think about that and understand how great that is going to be! Just think of the wonderful thing that it's going to be:
- Satan not around
- the world loving God
- we're teaching the people
- if they get out of line, we'll tell them, 'No! this is the way, walk in it.'
Psalm 98:1: "O sing to the LORD a new song…" I think there's going to be so much singing, joy and love, it's going to be an incredible thing, indeed!
"…for He has done marvelous things…" (v 1).
It says that the plower is going to tell reaper to get out of the way because of the abundance of everything! Think about what it's going to be like every seven years. There's going to be a land rest. All of the silos and the barns will be filled with food to last for three years. Think about what thing that's going to be! How much progress we can make, how much we're going to do.
I don't think we even have a clue as to the fantastic heights that people are going to be able to come to because of:
- the blessing of God
- the knowledge of God
- the Truth of God
which we will be instructing the people, and we will be instructed by Christ, as well.
"…His right hand and His Holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The LORD has made known His salvation… [to the world] …He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations" (vs 1-2). That's going to be something!
Verse 3: "He has remembered His steadfast love and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God."
Remember that Jesus said that 'you're to preach to the ends of the earth' (Acts 1). That was a command for them. But also a prophecy for us, because it's right here!"…all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God."
- we're the ones who are going to make it known
- we're the ones who are going to make it fantastic and absolutely marvelous
Verse 4: "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth…" What is that going to be like? If you could picture it this way:
You're sitting on a cloud above the earth and the cloud is stationary. The earth is turning and you're in a position to hear the beginning of the praise of God on the Sabbath. Everywhere it comes in the 24-hour period of the day portion of the Sabbath as the earth is turning. There are all the people are singing in joy, in praise, in thanksgiving, in righteousness and in love.
"…break forth, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre, and the voice of a psalm. With silver trumpets and sound of a ram's horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD" (vs 4-6).
I tell you, brethren, we have not even grasped what kind of fantastic services that we are going to have every single Sabbath during the Millennium. That's something to really grasp and understand! But here it is all foretold in the Word of God!
- We are going to be a part of it!
- We are going to make it happen!
- We are going to be teaching and training!
I tell you, that's something! That's why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles, so that we know that the day is coming and Christ is returning and these things are going to be exactly as it says in the Word of God!
Verse 7: "Let the sea roar, and the fullness of it, the world, and those who dwell in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy together before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth; with righteousness He shall judge the world and the people with equity" (vs 7-9).
What a fantastic thing that is going to be! That is us! God will give judgment to us! We're not going to judgment out of the side of our eyes, or anything like that. It's going to be the most marvelous time indeed! God has called us to be in integral part of it!
(go to the next track)
Not only is human nature going to be changed, brought back to what it was when Adam and Eve were first created. They still have choice. They still can make mistakes, etc.; we'll cover more of that on Day 6 and how it comes about. But God is going to make everything new.
Hosea 2:17: "For I will take away the names of the Baalim out of her mouth…" Not only out of Israel, but He's going to take it out of every nation of the world!
Verse 18: "And in that day I will make a covenant for them… [the whole world; the Covenant of Eternal life during the Millennium] …with the beasts of the field… [it will all be changed; everything is going to back to what it was when God first created Adam and Eve] …and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the ground. And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth you to Me forever…." (vs 18-19).
That is the baptism—there will still be baptism—the betrothal. The betrothal period is a time of love, loyalty, obedience, etc. Then when they reach a hundred years then we'll have a day when those who have qualified for salvation will be changed from flesh to spirit. That's going to be quite a day!
Speculation: Will that happen on the Day of Pentecost during their 100th year? Then all of them together will be changed from flesh to spirit and enter into the spirit Kingdom of God.
Of course, we're going to need all of them to help us rule the world! Because there are going to be more and more people. So, we need more and more coming into the Kingdom of God.
"…Yea, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercies" (v 19).
Verse 20: "I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. And it will be in that day that I will answer," says the LORD. "I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth, and the earth shall answer with grain and wine and oil. And they shall answer Jezreel. And I will sow her to Me in the earth. And I will have mercy on her that was shown no mercy. And I will say to her that was not My people, 'You are My people.' And they shall say, 'You are my God.'" (vs 20-23).
That's all part of our work; all part of bringing every bit of this to the world:
- in love
- in truth
- in understanding
This is quite a thing that God has called us to!
As we have covered, there are those who were with the Church of God, who have gone so far astray that they now say that they're not going to keep the Holy Days; they're not going to keep the Passover. They're going to take 'the Lord's Supper' every Sunday! Can you imagine that?
Think about that for just a minute! They had everything taught to them, everything shown to them, and yet, there are some people who are going to believe that. There will be people who will say, 'No! I'm going to be faithful to God.'
We'll have the same thing during the Millennium as we go along. But we need to see and understand this, how it is. God's plan is fantastic! God's plan is so great and awesome! We have been called as the firstfruits, the firstborn, the Church of the Firstborn, to partake of it now in our lives.
- to prepare
- to change
- to grow
- to overcome
We will be given the blessing of an inheritance of the firstborn, a double portion over all the rest!
Why will we receive it? Because we have had to fight against the world, other people and Satan the devil! So, our overcoming, and our work in growing and overcoming is much more difficult than it will be for them during the Millennium. Everything will be there, all the good things. We'll be there to:
- teach them
- to help them
- to encourage them
- to correct them
- to show them
- to teach them everything
Jeremiah 23:3: "'But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and will bring them again to their fold. And they shall be fruitful and multiply. And I will set up shepherds over them…" (vs 3-4). That's all of us in the first resurrection! A shepherd is to:
- watch for
- take care of
- teach
- lead
- comfort
- guard
That's all involved in shepherding!
"…who will feed them…." (v 4). What will we feed them with? The Truth of God! The Truth of God! The Truth of God! The righteousness of God! The love of God!
"'…And they shall fear no more, nor be afraid; nor shall they lack anything,' says the LORD. 'Behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall do justice and righteousness in the earth'" (vs 4-5). That is a prophecy of Christ!
He's King over the whole world! He reigns over the whole world. We are the ones who carry out the administration of His Kingdom.
Verse 6: "In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. And this is His name by which He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"—because we get righteousness from the Lord, not anything else!
Verse 7: "'Therefore, behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that they shall no more say, "The LORD lives, Who brought the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt"; but, "The LORD lives, Who brought up and led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries where He had driven them. And they shall dwell in their own land"'" (vs 7-8).
What a marvelous thing that is going to be! All nations; to Israel first, then all the nations!
It's a shame that some people would take to themselves the prerogative to give it all up!
- For what?
- What are you going to get?
- What is your future going be?
We're not going to give it up! We're going to understand the best way that we can!
Isaiah 44:1: "Yet, now hear, O Jacob My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen; thus says the LORD Who made you, and formed you from the womb…" (vs 1-2). Think about that!
The tremendous thing of increasing children through procreation, that's how God is making people. But He is making them because He put in man and woman to become one flesh and the one flesh will be their children. That is a marvelous thing, indeed! It's going to be known for the goodness and righteousness of it, that it actually is, which today there is no understanding of it.
"…'Fear not, O Jacob My servant, and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen'" (v 2). He says, 'I will help you! I will convert you! I will give you of My righteousness!' And we're there to make it happen!
Verse 3: "For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your seed, and My blessing upon your offspring." Just think how great that's going to be; God's blessing in everything!
Verse 4: "And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. One shall say, 'I am the LORD'S'; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall write with his hand, 'For the LORD,' and be named by the name of Israel. Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer even the LORD of hosts, 'I AM THE FIRST, AND I AM THE LAST…'" (vs 4-6). Start out with Adam and Eve, He's going to be with the last person, and then into all eternity!
What is that going to be like? Think about it, brethren. You see these marvelous pictures of what the universe is like; we have all be spirit beings in order to be living forever, so that we can travel in the universe. What will that be like?
There's so many awesome and fantastic things ahead of us, that we need to take all of our little problems and all of our little difficulties and set them aside and realize that there is nothing in this world that's going to separate us from God! God has chosen us to do these marvelous things as His children living forever!
Verse 21: "'Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are My servant; I have formed you; you are My servant; O Israel, you shall not be forgotten by Me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins; return to Me; for I have redeemed you.' Sing, O heavens; for the LORD has done it. Shout, O lower parts of the earth. Break out into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel" (vs 21-23).
Just think about what the world is going to be like at that time! What a fantastic thing!
Verse 24: "Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, and He Who formed you from the womb, 'I am the LORD Who makes all things; Who stretches out the heavens alone; Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself.'" We're all going to be a part of that!
Isa. 11 is so fantastic to understand and let's see if we can have our mind wrapped around more of this and what it's going to be like. This is going to be an awesome thing, indeed! This is going to be the whole framework for how everything is going to be done during the Millennium. How everything is going to be for us so we can teach the people and:
- help them to become converted
- help them to love God
- help them to desire eternal life
- help them have great and productive physical lives
Isaiah 11:1: "And there shall come forth a shoot out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch [Christ] shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. And He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes, nor after the hearing of His ears" (vs 1-3).
All through Millennium this is how Christ is going to be! Likewise it was with His ministry when He was in the flesh on the earth.
- this is how He lived
- this is how He thought
- this is how He taught
- this is how He acted
Verse 4: "But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth…"—where there are those who are going to come up with sin! When He returns to the earth He's going to clean out the earth that way.
"…and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins" (vs 4-5).
That's a wonderful description of how absolutely firm and stable everything is going to be during the Millennium. What a great thing, indeed!
Verse 6: "Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the cub lion and the fatling together… [here we have the calf and the cub lion; not the lamb] …and a little child shall lead them."
Think about how great it's going to be. Wouldn't the children rather have their own pet instead of a plastic toy? Think of all the lessons that they'll have to learn with that as children growing up. You have to feed your pet, groom your pet, take care of it, make sure that it gets its rest and you can't come after it and do nasty little things to it, because it may bite back, just to let you know not to do that. So, children will learn lessons with pets like that.
Then as the get older there will be horses they can ride and whatever other animals they want to ride. I think there will be a lot of people who would rather have tamed zebras, instead of horses. That would be something!
Verse 7: "And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox."
I wonder if the lion is going to chew its cud? I doubt it, but how is it going to eat grass? Remember, its teeth are now formed to rip and tear flesh. So, what change is going to have to take place in lions so they can eat grass? Think on that! I'm going to be very anxious to see how all of that is going to be.
Verse 8: "And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper's den. 'They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (vs 8-9).
Think about that for a minute! If you have a globe, look at it and see all the water on the earth, and all the water under the earth, and all the water over the earth. "…for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Think about what that's going to be like!
Carry this out over 200 years, 300 years, 400—1000 years. How is it going to be? This is going to be the environment in which new children are born and grow up, and the next generation, and the next generation. Quite a thing! Very wonderful, indeed!
This is down deep inside what people long for today, but they can't get it without Christ being here on the earth, and the saints ruling and reining with Christ. Never happen!
Psa. 33 will also give us some understanding concerning how it's going to be in the Millennium. Here's what we're going to be doing in addition to the things that we're going to be in working. You're going to have to take care of the plants and animals, all the people are going to, to nourish them and take care of them. I think that they are not going to be a lot of weeds and thorns and thistles during the Millennium, because those were part of the curse of Adam.
But during the restoration of all things under Christ, they're going to be able to plant and grow, and not have to fight the weeds. What production they're going to have! Then their lives are going to come to a certain point that they'll be ready to be transformed from flesh to spirit and enter into the Kingdom of God.
Psalm 33:1: "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming for the upright. Praise the LORD with a lyre; sing unto Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with shouts of joy, for the Word of the LORD is upright; and all His works are done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving kindness of the LORD" (vs 1-5). That's a great testimony of what God is going to do!
Psa. 145 is a Psalm especially made for understanding of the Millennium, what God is going to do, how it's going to be done, what we're going to do. All of those things are there. We are going to be preaching:
- Christ
- salvation
- mercy
- forgiveness
- understanding
- faith
- love
- grace
- truth
Constantly, so that there can be the harvest of multiple millions and millions and millions into the spiritual Family of God! In the spiritual Kingdom of God! The nations are going to be on the earth and New Jerusalem coming onto the earth. That's the ultimate goal of God! We're a part of that!
Psa. 145 needs to be our attitude toward God in our daily prayers and in what we are doing right now in changing, growing and overcoming!
Psalm 145:1: "I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name forever and ever" (vs 1-2).
That's what it's going to be during the Millennium. Just like with us every day, day-by-day, day-by-day, day-by-day; it's going to be the same way with them. We're going to be there to help them day-by-day, day-by-day; Sabbath-by-Sabbath, and the Passover and Holy Days all the time.
What we are covering here is the reflection of what the world will be like—all the world—and yet, individually for each person during the Millennium, while the knowledge of the Lord is as the waters cover the seas of the earth!
Verse 3: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable"—because He is God, and He is composed of spirit! His thoughts, love and truth are so magnificent, and His plan so great, and we have been called to be part of that.
Verse 4: "One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts"—over and over and over again for a thousand years!
Verse 5: "I will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and of Your wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of Your awesome works; and I will declare Your greatness" (vs 5-6)—always!
The knowledge and Truth of God, and the power of God and the magnificence of His Being and life and everything is going to just permeate! That's what it means when it says that the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the seas cover the earth! That is going to be magnificent, indeed!
Verse 6: "And men shall speak of the might of Your awesome works; and I will declare Your greatness." That's what we'll do every Sabbath when we're teaching!
- the greatness of God
- the might of His love
- what Christ did for us
- what Christ did for them
Verse 7: "They shall pour forth the memory of Your great goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (vs 7-8).
Think of how people are going to be. Think of how even a minor, little infraction of the Word of God is going to be so magnified in their mind. They will need mercy and compassion and forgiveness.
Verse 9: "The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. All Your works shall praise You, O LORD; and Your saints shall bless You" (vs 9-10).
I don't know how we can think of how it will be, but think about how the Sabbath is going to be every week in Jerusalem at the tabernacle with all of the sons of God! All of the patriarchs! All of those who are stationed in Jerusalem! The Sabbath with Christ there and all the apostles and we're singing praise to God the Father in greatness and the wonderful sounds of awesome music beyond our comprehension and understanding at this present time. That is going to be something, indeed!
Verse 11: "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom and talk of Your power… [over and over again all through the Millennium!] …to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts…" (vs 11-12).
I wonder how we're going to teach some of those. It makes you wonder if God has preserved everything that He has done in what we would call 'digital video form, full color? If that's the case, WOW! we can certainly have some fantastic lessons every Sabbath!
Verse 13: "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations."
We're going to be teaching not only out of the Old Testament, but out of the New Testament. We are going to be teaching out of the things that God is going to reveal to us, so that we can show about:
- the love of God
- the sacrifice of Christ
- the resurrection of the saints
- the changing from flesh to spirit for all of those who qualify during the Millennium after they've live a hundred years
A marvelous thing!
Now, here is a special revelation to the Apostle Paul, and all the other apostles as well. Eph. 3 is a tremendous chapter, one of the most inspiring in the Bible. It has directly to do with every one of us, and then everyone in the Millennium. It will be a revelation that will be known.
Ephesians 3:2: "If indeed you have heard of the ministry of the grace of God that was given to me for you."
Think about the grace of God in the Millennium. Wonderful! The love of God and the faith of God!
Verse 3: "How He made known to me by revelation the mystery (even as I wrote briefly before, so that when you read this, you will be able to comprehend my understanding in the mystery of Christ)" (vs 3-4)—not known before!
All the generations up to that point did not know it! And it's going to be magnified all during the Millennium.
Verse 5: "Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His Holy apostles… [all of them] …and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles might be joint heirs… [the whole world in the Millennium] …and a joint body, and joint partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel… [What is that promise? Everlasting life!] …of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given to me through the inner working of His power" (vs 5-7).
Notice how Paul was humbled through all the experiences that He went through:
Verse 8: "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints…"
When you come close to God and understand the power of God, it is really true that you feel and sense the magnificence of God and His power and awe and really how just a speck of dust we all are. Yet, God has brought us to the fullness so that we can be partakers of His life, as the sons and daughters of God!
"…was this grace given, that I might preach the Gospel among the Gentiles—even the unsearchable riches of Christ" (v 8). What is that going to be like given to us at the resurrection?
Verse 9: "And that I might enlighten all as to what is the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden from the ages in God, Who created all things by Jesus Christ… [revealed the first time here] …so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, according to His eternal purpose…" (vs 9-11)—before the ages of time; and we're part of that.
If we can grasp that and understand what God has called us to, this is going to be magnificent, indeed!
"…which He has wrought in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and direct access with confidence through His very own faith. So then, I beseech you not to faint at my tribulations for you, which are working for your glory" (vs 11-13).
Likewise with your own tribulations, difficulties and problems, don't faint at them! They may be very heavy! They may be very difficult! But God knows, and God will see you through it, regardless of the trauma of what you may be going through. God will see, hear and answer, because He wants you in the Kingdom to help save the whole world, educate the whole world and bring many, many, many millions of sons and daughters in to the spiritual Kingdom of God! That's why we're here.
Verse 14: "For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (vs 14-15).
That reaches back to all of those who were never called and will be in the second resurrection. It reaches to all of those from the time of Christ and the Church until the return of Christ. It reaches to all of those in the Millennium and those who are qualified to enter into the Kingdom of God, which will be the vast majority of people.
Verse 16: "That He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith" (vs 16-17).
That's what's going to have to be all during the Millennium. That Christ will dwell in their hearts by faith!
Verse 18: "And that being rooted and grounded in love…" That's going to be the first and foremost thing: love, faith, hope, grace, obedience and service! All of those things together in a magnificent mix for the near perfect world!
"…you may be fully able to comprehend with all the saints… [this is what God wants us to do]: …what is the breadth…" (v 18).
That's what we're trying to do here covering during the Feast of Tabernacles and all the Holy Days. Know this for sure: only through Sabbath, Passover and Holy Days is the:
breadth and length and depth and height" (v 18)—of God's plan, understood as much as we are able to understand it! That will expand to the knowledge of God covering the earth as the seas cover the earth!
Verse 19: "And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses human knowledge so that you may be filled… [this is what it's going to be for all of those in the Millennium who enter into eternal life]: …with all the fullness of God." That's what we are going to be teaching!
Now, here is the promise. We look at it now, we expand it out and then we will see how everything comes together:
Verse 20: "Now, to Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think… [How great is that going to be?] …according to the power that is working in us"—the power of God's Spirit to lead in love, truth and help us to overcome human nature and the world and Satan the devil, and all of those things that beset us!
Verse 21: "To Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations… [past, present and future] …even into the ages of eternity. Amen."
That's how the world is going to be during the Millennium, nearly perfect. But we will see that there is a lack of perfection by choice of human beings. We will see how that happens tomorrow.
Scriptural References:
- John 3:16
- 2 Corinthians 15:16-18
- John 3:16
- Psalm 22:22-28
- Revelation 2:26-29
- Psalm 22:30
- Isaiah 45:18-25
- Isaiah 66:10-14
- Isaiah 65:17-23
- Isaiah 9:6
- Isaiah 65:24-25
- Isaiah 43:18-21
- Psalm 98:1-9
- Hosea 2:17-23
- Jeremiah 23:3-8
- Isaiah 44:1-6, 21-24
- Isaiah 11:1-9
- Psalm 33:1-5
- Psalm 145:1-13
- Ephesians 3:2-21
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 20
- Ezekiel 40-48
- Colossians 1
- Galatians 4
- Amos 9
- Acts 1
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/29/19
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