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(FOT Day 6)
Fred R. Coulter—September 26, 2021
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 6 of the Feast of Tabernacles!
I hope you are having a great Feast, a wonderful time! Keep your mind on the goal, because we have the greatest calling; we will have the greatest jobs and things. Remember that as the Church of Firstborn, we will be the Church of the Firstborn forever, as well as being the firstfruits.
All who are in the first resurrection will be part of it! We're told in Rev. 20 that we are going to rule and reign a thousand years with Christ. We're told in Rev. 5 that this rule and reign will be on the earth! So, here we are now qualifying for it. Let's see what Jesus said about it.
Look at your own circumstances, look at what they are. It doesn't matter what they are, it's what you are in God's sight.
Jesus was showing that He had not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. Let's see how sure everything is with the Word of God:
- the Law
- the Prophets
- the Psalms
- the Gospels
- Acts
- all the Epistles of Paul
- the General Epistles
- book of Revelation
TRUTH!
Matthew 5:18: "For truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away… [it's still here] …one jot… [a little tick mark] …or one tittle… [that's one turned the other way] …shall in no way pass from the Law until everything has been fulfilled"—in the future!
Notice how important this is! You can look out at the world and everyone is going around to and fro, here and there, who's the greatest, who's this and that. But what is it in the eyes of God?
Verse 19: "Therefore, whoever… [that's the world here] …shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven… [doesn't that they'll be there. If they repent they'll probably will] …but whoever…" Listen to this:
- this is where we fit
- this is why we are called
- this is what we're going to do
"…whoever shall practice and teach them, this one shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven" (v 19).
That's something! God's way! Jesus wanted to make sure that there was no interlocking of Judaism with the commandments of God, because there isn't!
Verse 20: "For I say to you, unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees…" Those are the ones who practice Judaism!
The laws, commandments, testimonies, statutes and precepts of God are not from Judaism. Judaism has tried to envelop all of that into what they do. But what they actually do is hide it and bind it away. If it isn't greater than the scribes and Pharisees, how is that? Has to be with:
- the Spirit of God
- the love of God
- the knowledge of God
Because it says that if we do and teach them we'll be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven! But if we don't:
"…there is no way that you shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (v 20). That's an amazing thing to comprehend!
Let's see a statement by Jesus that covers everything we're going to be doing in the Millennium,
- what it is that God wants done
- how it is that God wants it done
- what is being taught
- what we're going to do
- how it's all going to come about
John 6—this is also true in the Millennium. Remember that He didn't come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, and inspiring and creating the New Testament—everything that that includes—adds on top to the Old Testament so you have the complete book.
John 6:44: "No one… [no man, no woman, no anyone] …can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day"—referring to Pentecost!
Verse 45: "It is written in the prophets…"
Just things concerning Jesus: there are over 356 references in the Old Testament. How about the things concerning what God is going to do in the Millennium? It's overwhelming, because most of the Scriptures referring to what's going to take place in the Millennium are found in the Old Testament!
"…'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore, everyone who has heard from the Father, and has learned… [the Father is teaching through Christ and during the Millennium we will be teaching, also] …comes to Me" (v 45).
- think about what Jesus has to do
- think about what it's going to be
It's going to be the greatest time from the creation of man up to that point!
After that, starting with the Last Great Day, that will be the greatest and most overwhelming thing to happen in the whole history of the world. Brethren, understand that God has called us to great things! Not now;
- now is the time for us to learn
- now is the time for us to be converted
- now is the time for us to be taught by God
- through His Word
- through His Spirit
- together like a hand-in-glove
An amazing thing! Think about it!
Whenever you read the Bible, you're being taught by the Father! Christ is there helping everything being written in our heart and inscribed upon our mind to become a very part of our being. That's what God wants. That's deep conversion! That's what is necessary in order to serve the people in the Millennium! How do we get this deep conversion? That's absolutely necessary for teaching in the Millennium!.
This has to be our attitude. These are the things we must practice; not just know! It's one thing to hear, it's one thing to know, and it's another thing to practice! With practice comes more understanding. It's quite a wonderful thing that God has done:
- with His Spirit
- with Christ
- with His sacrifice
- with His resurrection
- with His Church
Now we're living in the last days when it says, 'In the last days the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand.' That's an amazing thing!
Psalm 119:10: "With all my heart I have sought You…" How do we seek God?
- through His Word
- through prayer
- through study
- through crying out to Him
O Lord God:
- grant me Your Spirit
- help me with Your Truth
- lead me in Your righteousness
- guide me in Your Holiness
That's how it is!
"…O let me not wander from Your commandments" (v 10). What a wonderful statement!
When we're all done with the Feast off Tabernacles this year, and we go home and we're on our way we're back in the world. We've got to fight the world, we have to over come everything that is out there. Don't stray from the commandments of God!
Verse 11: "Your Word I have laid up in my heart… [become a very part of you] …so that I might not sin against You."
If you're walking in the way of the Lord and you have the Word of God, and you're going by it, you're not going to sin.
Verse 12: "Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes."
It says that "…we'll all be taught of God…" when we're all the sons and daughters of God as spirit beings, and we're in the God Family and teaching the people, they're being taught of God!
Verse 13: "With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth."
This is almost like looking down on a great vision of all of human history. That's what it is as we're preparing for the Millennium. Here's what we do; here's how we stay faithful and yielded to God so we can be:
- the teachers
- the administrators
- the leaders
Verse 14: "I have rejoiced… [makes you happy, glad] …in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches."
Everything that we know and all that God is teaching us is greater than all the riches in the world. Remember what Jesus said? We have to have the true riches! That's comes from God!
Verse 15: "I will meditate upon Your precepts and have respect to Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word" (vs 15-16).
Think how that is! Look at how David is constantly looking to God, and God will do this! God blessings are coming! All of us will have our blessings and rewards, and loving God is the most important thing.
Verse 17: "Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Word."
Notice that all of this leads to a greater understanding of the Word of God. A greater understanding of the Word of God will:
- add to our faith
- add to our hope
- add to our love
that we love God exceedingly! "Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your Word."
Let's look at some other things concerning learning and teaching.
Psalm 86:9: "All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O LORD, and shall glorify Your name."
This will happen during the Millennium every Sabbath, every Holy Day, every Feast; all nations will come.
Verse 10: "For You are great and do wonderful things; You alone are God." Think about that!
- How great is the Millennium going to be?
- How fantastic is that going to be?
Verse 11: "Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your Truth…" That's what God wants! Doesn't this agree with what we read in the New Testament? Yes, indeed!
"…unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O LORD my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore, for great is Your mercy toward me… [think about how great this is] …and You have delivered my soul from the depths of the grave" (vs 11-13)—raised from the grave! So, it shows the resurrection!
That's a marvelous thing, indeed; something great for us to understand! Now you know why many of the Jews are disappointed in Christ, because He didn't deliver the things at that time that we read are coming in the Millennium.
Psalm 132:7: "Let us go unto His tabernacle…"
We described that, the 'great tabernacle' (Isa. 4). There will be times we will go to that tabernacle:
- where Christ is
- where all the patriarchs are
- where David is
- where all the apostles are
Quite an amazing thing!
"…let us worship at His footstool. Arise, O LORD, into Your rest… [the Millennium] …You and the ark of Your strength. Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints shout for joy. For Your servant David's sake, turn not away the face of Your anointed. The LORD has sworn to David in truth; He will not turn from it: 'Of the fruit of your body will I set upon the throne for you'" (vs 7-11)
What is the ultimate of that? Jesus Christ! That's an amazing thing, and Paul showed that.
Let's see what's going to happen; there's a lot that is going to happen in bringing the children of Israel back where they ought to be. Remember that there's more than just the area in the Middle East. The promise was given to Abraham: look to the North, to the South, the East and to the West! Let's see what happens when God brings the children of Israel, and they're going to come repenting because God will grant them repentance. What a day that will be!
Ezekiel 36:33: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities…'"
Isn't that going to be something? God is going to forgive them all. There they were in captivity for their sin, some survived and some didn't and they'll have to wait the second resurrection. But here God is going to cleanse them, teach them and cleanse them.
"…I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the waste places shall be rebuilt" (v 33).
As we have already covered, it's going to be the greatest re-building project in the history of the world, to re-build it; nothing is going destroy it! No more war! Well, there will be the last war right at the end of the Millennium, that will be the last war.
Verse 34: "And the wasteland shall be tilled, instead of being desolate before all who pass by."
Have you ever been on a plane flying along and you look out the window and you think: It's almost empty! No one is there! All "…the wasteland shall be tilled…" Think how productive that's going to be!
Verse 35: "And they shall say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden….'"
It's going to be an amazing thing, and we'll be there helping it take place:
- teaching them what to do
- helping them with their children
- helping them in everything that they do
Think of it, every Sabbath, every Holy Day, every Feast of God will be a rejoicing!
"'…And the wasted, desolate and ruined cities now are fenced and inhabited'" (v 35)—be built up again; redo the cities!
As we read in Rev. 16, with the last earthquake that takes place and all the cities of the earth fell! Think about the big skyscrapers in all the great cities around the world. There are some in Asia that are over thousand feet in the air! They're going to collapse! You talk about a project of cleaning up!
Verse 36: "And the nations that are left all around you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it."
We will be the ones to carry it out, to make it happen! That's a marvelous thing to behold! We'll be working right with God and God with us, and us with the people. Amazing!
Reading this and thinking about it; looking at the world and the nation and all the troubles and things that are out there:
- little do they know what God has planned
- little do they know that only through God will there be peace
- little do they know that all of us 'little nothings'—as far as the world is concerned—will be doing it and teaching them
That's amazing to think about!
Verse 37: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'I will yet be sought by the house of Israel to act for them. I will increase them with men like a flock.'" There is going to an increase of men and women that all have to be born!
Verse 38: "As a Holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed Feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. And they shall know that I am the LORD."
Everyone is going to be knowing God from the least of them to the greatest of them. What a time that is going to be! We'll be right there! We're the ones causing this to happen after Jesus decrees that it's going to happen. Think about all the work that will entail for us. Think about doing all of that, and how much we, even as spirit beings, will grow in grace, knowledge, understanding, helping and all of this sort of thing. It's going to be marvelous to behold!
Ezek. 37 is a little difficult to understand, because the first 18 verses are devoted to the Last Great Day. Whereas, from v 19 forward, that's talking about the beginning of the Millennium.
As it says in Isa. 28, it will be 'line upon line, precept upon precept and here a little, there a little.' That's why in the Old Testament it's difficult to comprehend in many cases, because we're used to linear thinking, beginning and ending. God scrambles it all up, and we have to rightly divide it and put it together.
Here's what God is going to do with Israel; Ezekiel 37:19: "Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions, and I will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and will make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand."'"
Bring back all 12 tribes together! That's going to be a great, tremendous thing!
Verse 20: "And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes. And say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and will bring them into their own land"'" (vs 20-21).
Just think of how great some of these movements are going to be, to bring people, families and whole nations and put them where God wants them to be.
Verse 22: "And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one king shall be king over them all. And they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all."
It's going to be a great change, a great cleansing, healing and teaching!
Verse 23: "Nor shall they be defiled with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with all of their transgressions. But I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they shall be to Me for a people, and I will be their God."
See how much God is involved in it? With God involved in it, that means we're involved in it! So, when we read these things, remember that we're part of it. You don't just have one man bring a whole nation back. It's going to take a lot of people, and those are all the converted saints:
- to help them
- to heal them
- to make them one
- to bring them back to the land
Verse 24: "And David My servant shall be king over them. And there shall be One Shepherd… [Jesus Christ] …to all of them. And they shall walk in My ordinances and obey My laws, and do them."
What is it going to be like with everyone—there will be some sinners—keeping God's way. Remember where we started: they shall all be taught of God! Think about that; all of this in the Scriptures. Absolutely dumbfounding!
Here in the Old Testament you find that almost 80%, maybe 90%, of all the things pertaining to the Millennium. So, no wonder that the Protestants and Catholics, who ignore the Old Testament, know nothing about what's going to happen.
If the Jews look at the New Testament, they don't see anything that is going to guarantee them that they're going to be back in the land and God is going to protect them.
In the Old Testament it talks about the kingdoms ruling on earth and God in charge. But there is no time sequence given. In the New Testament we have all about Christian character: love, truth, faith and obedience! Why is that?
In order to rule here, we must have the character, love and truth that comes from the N.T., the New Covenant. You can't have those assisting God who are not the sons and daughters of God. You can't have them truly understanding how to serve all the things written in the O.T. unless they are first converted and then resurrected and changed when Christ comes to the earth. All that has to be first! Then we come back to everything here in the O.T. and it comes alive, because it's properly put together.
Verse 24: "And David My servant shall be king over them. And there shall be One Shepherd to all of them. And they shall walk in My ordinances and obey My laws, and do them."
What will happen when that occurs? The whole society living this way!
Verse 25: "And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, the land in which your fathers have dwelt. And they shall dwell in it, even they and their children, and their children's children forever. And My servant David shall be their ruler forever."
This requires the eternal life of David. And children and children's children means that those who start out are going to have to be converted and then enter into the spiritual Kingdom of God; the next generation the same way. It's all right there.
Verse 26: "Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. And My tabernacle… [that great tabernacle (Isa. 4)] …shall be with them. Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (vs 26-27).
Quite a thing! A whole lot different than it is today!
Verse 28: "And the nations shall know…"—the whole world is going to know!
Remember what we read at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles: the nations shall learn from Jerusalem! The Lord will rule! No more war and they 'shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and they shall learn war no more.'
Brethren, think about the waste of money and resources and all this has gone down through the history of the world:
- to kill
- to slaughter
- to decapitate
- to burn
All people fighting against the other! Just think how different it's going to be during the Millennium. There isn't going to be any waste of that money.
"…that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in their midst forever" (v 28).
We're looking at something that is going to be lasting, lasting for a long, long time.
Stop and think; it makes me wonder. We have the Bible today. How much bigger will it be as things transpire in the Millennium? I imagine that it will be a whole lot bigger!
Psalm 48:11: "Let Mount Zion rejoice! Let the daughters of Judah shout for joy because of Your judgments! Walk around Zion, and go all around her; count her towers; consider her ramparts, go through her palaces, so that you may tell it to the coming generation" (vs 11-13).
Just think what it's going be like in Jerusalem, the most beautiful place on the face of the earth, with that great tabernacle there! It's going to be awesome! People are going to come and they're be able to… I don't know how close they'll be able to come to it, but come to visit and see that. Of course, there will be pictures and things like we have now.
Verse 13:"Consider her ramparts, go through her palaces, so that you may tell it to the coming generation, for this God is our God forever and ever; He will guide us even unto death" (vs 13-14).
Death is going to be a little different during the Millennium, as we will see tomorrow. There's a lot of stuff in the Old Testament. Again and again, it is a marvelous thing! You see, without the Sabbath and the Holy Days, without the knowledge of keeping them, we would never know!
Just like the world, they don't know! What is it that they really know? If you would sit down and tell a whole bunch of Protestants:
Listen, folks! I know you're sincere, I know you believe that you love God, but do you realize that :
- you don't even have 3% of the knowledge of the Bible?
- the Truth of the Bible?
- Do you think that 3% is sufficient to be saved?
- How are you going to be prepared?
Never happen!
Like I said, when you're on the plane looking down and you see all of this vacant land, and you think, especially if you fly over a desert. Look at the whole Sahara Desert, what a different place that will be, because it will be like it is right here in Isa. 35. Then look at the:
- Gobi Desert
- Death Valley
- the heights of Peru
all of those desolate places windswept and hot; foreboding and evil! All because of the sins of men and women.
Here's what's going to happen, and this is going to be quite a revolution. Think about how much the climate is going to be returned to normal. It can be like what we're going through right now in California and the Northwest, and other places, we're suffering a terrible drought. The reservoirs that have water in them flowing to generate electricity are getting so low that the water level may go below the level of the generators. Then there will be no electricity! What are we going to do then? Let's read what God is going to do to this world:
Isaiah 35:1: "The wilderness and the desert shall be glad and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD and the majesty of our God" (vs 1-2).
God is going to be known! What's it going to be like when God comes out and shows His glory? Everybody is looking at it! O God, how great You are!
Verse 3: "Make the weak hands strong and make the feeble knees sure." Going to change everything!
- they're all going to be loved and encouraged
- they're all going to have hope
- they're all going to look to it
And we're the ones to bring it to them! That's the thing that's so important, and that's why we have to:
- grow in grace
- grow in knowledge
- grow in understanding
- grow in the faith, truth and love of God
So we can help them! They will be pitiful!
The next time you watch the American History Channel and you see all of those poor, pitiful people in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine and the Soviet Union. Took all the Jews out and all the ones that they didn't want and had big trenches dug, shot them, killed them and put them into a terrible grave.
Think about what it's going to be like, because with the survivors coming out of the Great Tribulation, they're going to have witnessed things even worse than that. Therefore, "Make the weak hands strong and make the feeble knees sure."
Verse 4: "Say to those of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance…'"
By the time we get to this point, that vengeance will have already been executed against the armies of this world.
"'…with the full recompense of God. He will come and save you'" (v 4):
- physically
- mentally
- spiritually
- give purpose to your life
- give you teachers that will love you
- teach everyone to love one another
- teach everyone to worship God
- teach everyone to love God
What a time that's going to be!
Verse 5: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness waters shall break out, and streams in the desert" (vs 5-6).
It's going to be a time absolutely unheard of! Here we are! If we could kind of picture these things taking place. Wonder what it's going to be like when we can see what God is going to do to these deserts.
- all of a sudden there's water
- all of a sudden the climate is changed
- all of a sudden things begin to grow
People are there rejoicing, running to the water to drink it, to cool themselves, to bathe themselves, to praise and thank God for all that He is doing. We will be there to help them and say, 'It's all right, it's over! God is here! We are His children!'
Verse 7: "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land shall become springs of water in the home of jackals, in its lair, it shall be a place for the reed and rush. And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness…. [leading up to Jerusalem]…The unclean shall not pass over it. But it will be for him who walks in that way, but fools, shall not err in it. No lion shall be there, nor any beast of prey shall go up on it, they shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (vs 7-10).
Brethren, that's our destiny for bringing peace to the world under Christ! What a time that is going to be! Think about it.
Now, when we look at our lives and our circumstances today, let's not be overwhelmed. Let's be grateful and thankful and know what God has called us to do.
(break@51:15)
I was thinking, suppose that this might happen:
God says to one of us, 'I want you go down here to this village in the Sahara Desert out in the middle of nowhere. You go down there and tell them, "I'm sent from God"'—and they will look at you and say 'How do I know you're sent from God, I've had so many people and missionaries come down here all my life and say they're from God; nothing ever happens.' "I'm from God" I don't believe it!
So, you turn up a little bit of glory and he looks at you and says, 'All right! All right! I believe it!'
"Tomorrow morning the message from God is this: 'I'm sending you a stream of water, which is going to go right past your home.'"
He says, 'I don't believe it! We've had a lot people come down here to this desert to try and bring us water. We've got an oasis 15 miles away, and that's where I get most of my water and bring it here. How are you going to get water flowing like a river next to my house?'
'You just wait!' So, he waits and waits, the sun goes down and he goes to bed and he's sleeping. He wakes up a little before dawn and he hears water! 'Wake up! There's water!'
All the kids get up, his wife gets up, and they run out and see that here is a stream in the desert. The kids run out there and run into it, and they're jumping up and down for joy. The first time in their life they've been able to jump up and down in water!
He says, 'The one that was here yesterday said it would happen, and it did.' All of a sudden here you are and say, 'Now do you believe? Now do you believe that God is here on the earth?' Yes! Yes! I believe!
'The first thing you need to do is realize that Allah was not God.' Really? 'That's true! Only the true God is God, not Allah. Did Allah ever bring you water like this?' No, he only brought us war and sand!
'Now God says that we're going to have different ones come here and help you build your village again, alongside the river, and teach you the Word of God so you will know what to do in this brand new world that is being raised up out of all the desolations of war. We'll have some instructions for you on what you need to do; so be prepared for that. Are you willing to listen?' Oh yes! I'm willing to listen!
'You're going to have to obey God.' Oh yes! I'll obey God! 'All right! Now listen to this; you must keep the Sabbath.' Well, I've always kept Friday! 'Well, that's not the day of God. That many have been the day of Allah, but he ain't here, and he didn't bring you water. So, you're going to keep the Sabbath.' That's for those nasty Jews!
'Well, those nasty Jews have all been converted.' What does that mean? 'They're not the evil people you thought that they were. And besides that, more than that the sons and daughters of God are ruling on the earth and bringing peace everywhere.' Really? That's amazing!
'We'll keep you posted! We'll see you Friday night and we'll have a study of the Word of God so that you will know what you need to do. In the meantime, you and your children enjoy the water. Have fun! Drink of it! Wallow in it! Because God has sent it and it's a permanent stream right in front of your house.'
You mean I can grow food here! 'You can grow anything that you want here. God will bless you as long as you love and obey Him.' All right! 'We'll talk a little bit later about what other things you need to do.'
When God says that He's going to make the desert bloom with roses, it's going to be every other good thing you can grow there, as well. Roses are just the beauty on top of it all.
I was thinking about what it would be for a Muslim out there in the desert and all of sudden one of the sons of God shows up and tells him all of this. What a time that will be.
Isaiah 32:15: "Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is thought to be a forest."
Look at how everything is going to grow and multiply during the Millennium. That's going to be something! Absolutely amazing!
Verse 16: "Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness…"
The same justice everywhere from cities, the villages, the country and even into the most remote places of the world. The same justice! The same Law!
"…and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace…" (vs 16-17).
What I just described to you with the Muslim was bringing peace. That's peace! Think of that, instead of war! What a waste war has been. The more I think on that, the more it is a tragic thing, because when it's all added up nearly 50% of all the wealth of all nations down through history has gone to warfare and war equipment. Fifty percent of all the economies! That's an amazing thing!
"…and the result of righteousness shall be quietness and confidence forever" (v 17).
- don't have to worry about enemies
- don't have to worry about robbers
- don't have to worry about armies
- peace
- love
- joy
Verse 18: "And my people shall dwell in a peaceable home, and in secure dwellings and quiet resting places."
No one is going to disturb that! How many people have gone to bed at night worrying about what's going to happen the next day? Look at all the poor homeless people that there are today, wondering where their next food coming.
- Doesn't anyone care for me?
- Doesn't anyone want me?
Terrible situation, indeed!
Isa. 43—here God is telling us His whole purpose for people. A wonderful thing; we're all made in the image of God. Yet, today we hate each other! It's a terrible thing having to put with the evil to avoid it, watch it on television and everything that we do. But God tells us here concerning Jacob:
Isaiah 43:1: "But now, thus says the LORD Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel; 'Fear not… [going to be quite a time; don't fear] …for I have redeemed you…'" Brought you back:
- from the devil
- from all of the wrong governments
"…I have called you by your name; you are Mine" (v 1)—all Israel!
Take that and apply it to the Church and see how true that is. We are God's! God bought us with the price of Jesus Christ to be His sons and daughters, to bring peace to the world.
- Can there anything greater?
- Can there anything in the world compared to what God is offering us now? No!
Verse 2: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… [coming back out of captivity] …and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; nor shall the flame kindle on you, for I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you" (vs 2-3).
But here with the return of Jesus Christ, He's going to give up most of the nations of the world!
Verse 4: "Since you are precious in My sight…" Think about that! How about those of us who have the Spirit of God, that we're precious in the sight of God?
- God has called us
- God loves us
- God has given us His Spirit
- God has given us His Truth
- God has given us His love
- He's given the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
"…you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore, I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not…" (vs 4-5).
Especially when we leave the Feast of Tabernacles and go back home; going back out into the world.
Verse 5: "Fear not, for I am with you…." Not only that, God is in us!
Now, He says of Israel; "…I will bring your seed from the East, and gather you from the West. I will say to the North, 'Give up'; and to the South, 'Do not keep back'; bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth" (vs 5-6).
What a time of rebuilding the whole world that is going to be! We and all the resurrected saints, down through all time, will be there to make it all happen. There will be plenty enough of us that it's all going to work out. It's all going to be right, and God will make sure that it comes out right. We will have the responsibility to carry it out.
Verse 7: "Even everyone who is called by My name; for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him."
Think about that and how it applies to us. Remember that whenever it talks about Israel there's the physical nation with physical people, and there is the spiritual nation, the spiritual people—those of God!
When it says, 'I made you' think about how God has made us. He's given us His Spirit. Look at what He's done!
This is what God is doing right now; right now while we're here today listening to these things and letting the words of God into our heart and mind:
- believing them
- loving God
- loving each other
- understanding what God is doing for us
He is creating in us, and here's how He does it:
Romans 12:1: "I exhort you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice… [that's what we do] …Holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service."
- your love
- your truth
- your mercy
- your hope
- your prayers to God
- your serving the brethren
- your studying the Word of God
All of that is involved in being created after Christ!
Verse 2—here's the most important thing: "Do not conform yourselves to this world, but be transformed… ]metamorphosed; changed slowly over a period of time] …by the renewing of your mind…"
- God's Holy Spirit coming in, putting out the carnality
- God's Holy Spirit coming in, putting out the sin
- God's Holy Spirit coming in, having love, hope and joy
That's how He's creating us! God says, 'I've created you!' then when we're resurrected that creation is going to enter a whole new stage.
"…in order that you may prove what is well-pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God" (v 2). Isn't that something that He's doing that for us?
Galatians 4:18: "Now, it is right to be zealous in a right thing at all times… [that's what we need to be doing with the Kingdom of God, the Truth of God and what He's given us] …and not only when I am present with you. My little children, for whom I am again laboring in pain until Christ has been formed in you" (vs 18-19).
That's what God is doing! Creating in us the mind of Christ! This is how God is creating in us in preparation so that the things we're reading about concerning the Millennium we will be ready and able to do it after the resurrection. Here's what we need to look to; let's see how Paul framed this and tie that in with what we just read in the Old Testament in Isaiah.
Philippians 2:1: "Now then, if there be any encouragement in Christ… [that's what we want] …if any comfort of love… [that brings love] …if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any deep inner affections and compassions"—having your whole being wrapped up in it!
Verse 2: "Fulfill my joy that you be of the same mind… [What is that mind?] …having the same love, being joined together in soul, minding the one thing"—constantly!
- the Kingdom of God
- the Spirit of God
- the Truth of God
Verse 3: "Let nothing be done through contention or vainglory, but in humility, each esteeming the others above himself." Uplift the other person! Don't be self-righteous and looking down on them.
Verse 4: "Let each one look not only after his own things, but let each one also consider the things of others. Let this mind be in you…" (vs 4-5).
- that mind has to come because you desire it
- that mind has to come because you want it
- that mind has to come because you love God
"…which was also in Christ Jesus" (v 5).
Now look what Christ Jesus did so that we—
- with the Spirit of God today
- reading the Word of God
- understanding about the coming of the Millennium and what we're going to be doing in it
—understand!
But look what Jesus did to do it; He emptied Himself!
Verse 6: "Who, although He existed in the form of God… [He was God] …did not consider it robbery to be equal with God."
We're going to be the sons and daughters of God! But remember that God is creating in us (Isa.).
Verse 7: "But emptied Himself…"
Not self-centered; not doing things for self. He became that pinpoint of life to be begotten in the womb of the virgin Mary.
"…and was made in the likeness of men, and took the form of a servant" (v 7).
- He didn't come as a high and might king
- He didn't come as a president
- He didn't come as a senator, representative or governor
He came as—because He's getting rid of sin—the garbage collector. Don't anybody take that in the wrong way. I mean that entirely in the right way, because He's taking the garbage of our human nature and transforming it, getting rid of it and creating in us Christ!
Verse 8: "And being found in the manner of man, He humbled Himself…"
How much have we been humbled? Well, when you look at it, our day must be coming! Probably is! I tell you what, IF you humble yourself before God and let the mind of Christ be in you, THEN whatever comes makes no difference!
"…and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (v 8). Transfer that into our lives in the way that it needs to be!
Verse 9: "Therefore, God has also highly exalted Him and bestowed upon Him a name, which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow took the form of a servant, of beings in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father" (vs 9-11).
So, when He says that He's 'created us' He's talking about the Church, spiritual Israel.
Isaiah 43:8: "Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. Let all the nations be brought together, and let the people be gathered; who among them can declare this and show us the former things?…." (vs 8-9).
What He's saying is that everything that's going to be during the Millennium is greater that has been on the face of the earth. We are a part of it!
"…Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, 'It is Truth'" (v 9)—the very plan of God!
Verse 10: "'You are My witnesses,' says the LORD, 'and My servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me no God was formed, nor shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the LORD; and besides Me there is no savior" (vs 10-11). It's Christ or nothing at all! That's pretty much the way that it is!
Verse 12: "'I have declared, and have saved, and I have shown, when there was no strange god among you; therefore, you are My witnesses,' says the LORD, 'that I am God.
That's what we're going to be teaching! That's what we're going to be doing! See how important it is for us today to apply ourselves so we can do it in the Kingdom of God when Christ returns. Notice how important this is; think about this:
Verse 13: "Yea, before the day was, I am He; and no one delivers out of My hand; I will work, and who can reverse it?"
God is going to create in us His very mind, the thoughts of Christ and then give us a spirit body of glory!
"…I will work, and who can reverse it?' Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel…" (vs 13-14).
That's quite a thing! Think about it! Think how it's going to be! This Millennium is going to be absolutely a wonderful time, and we are going to be part of it!
I've covered about all I can cover today, so let's keep this in mind and continue to have a wonderful, joyous, loving Feast of Tabernacles. Have it unfold before our very eyes, the very plan that God has for us!
Scriptural References:
- Matthew 5:18-20
- John 6:44-45
- Psalm 119:10-17
- Psalm 86:9-13
- Psalm 132:7-11
- Ezekiel 36:33-38
- Ezekiel 37:19-28
- Psalm 48:11-14
- Isaiah 35:1-10
- Isaiah 32:15-18
- Isaiah 43:1-7
- Romans 12:1-2
- Galatians 4:18-19
- Philippians 2:1-11
- Isaiah 43:8-14
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 20; 5
- Isaiah 4
- Revelation 16
- Isaiah 28
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/19/21
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