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(Day 1 FOT)
Fred R. Coulter—September 21, 2021
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles!
God has done something very interesting, and of course, the world doesn't realize it. But it's like throwing away the combination to the greatest knowledge and understanding that you can probably have. That is to say that the Old Testament has been fulfilled or it's no longer needed. Or as the Catholics say, that is the Old Law.
But the truth is that their law is older from this point of view. They follow Satan the devil who had his own law setup in a rebellion against God, so that he could rule the demons.
Of course, Satan doesn't want anyone to know about what God is doing. So, he does everything he can to:
- discredit the Word of God
- discredit Jesus Christ
- discredit everything that God has done
- discredit everything that God stands for
There are many who belong to different secret organizations, such as the:
- Masons
- Knights of Columbus
- Elks
- economic clubs
- the Davos rich group
who are ruling the world know, but they're soon going to be replaced!
They don't know anything about it because they don't have the Word of God. One of the most important Feasts that we're going to cover is this one, the Feast of Tabernacles. Beginning here in Lev. 23, God has hidden the basic skeleton with His Sabbath and Holy Days that with taking the whole Bible together and properly putting it together, shows God's plan and purpose for mankind.
Think about what God has given you and me, all of His people, the understanding of His Word! It's not because we're anything great of ourselves, because we're not. We came from a speck of dust, and God wants to transform us into the sons and daughters of His Family.
That's quite a thing! The Feast of Tabernacles is really something, because one of the themes of it is—in edition to what we're going to cover today—is to dwell with God! That is going to be something! You would never know it by reading Lev. 23.
Leviticus 23:33: "And the LORD spoke to Moses saying."
You will find this all the way through the first five books of the Bible, because Moses never wrote one thing that what his own opinion or his own law. He spoke the Word of God, he spoke the Truth exactly as God told him to do. So, God says:
Verse 34: "…'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD.'"
So, this Feast of Tabernacles that we have is not a vacation like the world has. But it is a gathering together of the future children of God to learn more of His way to temporarily dwell with Him during this seven days in a way that's greater than what it is the rest of the year.
Verse 35: "On the first day shall be a Holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein. Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD…." (vs 35-36).
That's the temple sacrifice and everything. Today we don't make seven offerings, we bring an offering on the Holy Day.
Go back and read Num. 29. Maybe those of you who know the price of animals and things like that can figure out the cost of all of those sacrifices that God required. It would be a lot of money.
"…you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly. And you shall do no servile work therein" (v 36).
In other words, it's dedicated to God! Solemn doesn't mean that it's not necessarily joyous, but it means not a carnival like atmosphere!
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… [God is summing up everything up to this point] …a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything on its day; besides the Sabbaths of the LORD… [that is the weekly Sabbath and the Holy Day Sabbath] …and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD" (vs 37-38).
They were to make little booths. Today we understand that actually everything on the earth is temporary. So, whatever building or wherever you are staying is a temporary dwelling. It's not like a booth as God told them to make.
Verse 39: "Also, in the fifteenth day of the seventh month when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep a Feast to the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a Sabbath, and on the eighth day…"
Isn't that interesting? The 8th day! We're going to see that this little phrase conceals—when we get to the Last Great Day—one of the greatest secrets of God, which the world doesn't have a clue!
"…on the eighth day shall be a Sabbath. And you shall take the boughs of beautiful trees for yourselves on the first day, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days" (vs 39-40).
Though it's a solemn festival, we still rejoice before God, in the right way!
Verse 41: "'And you shall keep it a feast to the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths seven days. All that are born Israelites shall dwell in booths, so that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' And Moses declared the appointed Feasts of the LORD to the children of Israel" (vs 41-44).
Now let's see something about bringing an offering to God so that we know and understand. We are to bring an offering to God, but we choose and give from the heart and no minister or church is to coax people to give money that's beyond their means to give. That's not the point, and should never be!
Deuteronomy 16:16: "Three times in a year shall all your males appear before the LORD your God in the place which He shall choose: in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and in the Feast of Weeks, and in the Feast of Tabernacles. And they shall not appear before the LORD empty."
This is what we give individually! What we read before in Lev.23 and all the offerings there, and in Num. 29, which we referred to, those are the required temple offerings. Now this is the individual offering.
Verse 17: "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God, which He has given you."
Think about all the blessings that God has given. Not just the physical things, but all the spiritual thing: The understanding of the Word of God! What value can you place on understanding the Word of God? You cannot, because it is spiritually understood!
But we can give an offering to God, and we are not to appear empty. One final thing: the New Testament, through Paul in 2-Cor. 9—says that if you sow sparingly, you shall reap sparingly; if you sow abundantly, you will reap abundantly.
God is able to make blessings abound to every one of us.
(pause for the offering)
Brethren, thank you very much for your offering. I appreciate your faithfulness and your tithes and offerings, as well. We use it to:
- preach the Gospel
- publish the Gospel
- get the Gospel out
- take care of the websites
- getting everything done we need to get done
To do what God wants, and trust in God to lead us where we need to go and what we need to do!
Let's look at a very interesting Scripture in Isa. 9[transcriber's correction]. Quite startling, in fact. The Jews had many thoughts about a coming messiah, and today they still believe that the messiah will be a man, which will be the big last delusion upon the Jews.
Verses 6-7 tell us what's very important and ties in with the Feast of Tabernacles and how God is going to bring His way, His Truth and His Government, in a proper way. Unfortunately, too many ministers have used government in an improper way to refer to the rules and regulations of the ministry. That's not the Government of God!
The Government of God is God governing His people, the world and the people in the world. Notice v 6 and it presents some very interesting things, because it covers many aspects of Jesus Christ at different stages of God's plan, but not necessarily in a chronological way.
Isaiah 9:6[transcriber's correction]: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders…"
Remember that all government comes from God; even governments in the world, because God gave it to the world after the Flood of Noah. What men do with it is another case, but now we're talking about the Government of God through Christ.
"…and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God…" (v 6).
How can a child born be called The Mighty God? That's why we have the New Testament! So, the Jews—to this day—who reject the N.T. don't understand that it was the One Who became Jesus Christ. They don't understand what He did to become a human being.
How—even though they rejected, crucified and killed Him—He was raised from the dead and sits at the right hand of God the Father and is waiting to return to the earth now. But everything has to be worked out according to God's plan.
"…The Everlasting Father…" (v 6). That's a hard one to figure! We know of God the Father because the New Testament tells us about it. Jesus said that He came to reveal the Father! Why is Jesus here referred to as an "…Everlasting Father…"?
Let's look at the plan of God. On the Sea of Glass after the first resurrection, there's going to be a wedding. Jesus Christ is going to marry His Bride, and all of those who come into the Kingdom of God through the Millennium will be the children of Jesus and His Bride. That's when He becomes an "…Everlasting Father…"! He hasn't been a Father everlasting, but since He is everlasting when He becomes a Father He will be "…The Everlasting Father…"! I'll let you untie that knot!
Verse 7: "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His Kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with righteousness from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." Remember:
- whenever God says He proposes it, He will do it
- whenever God says that He will carry it out, He will do it
However, in many cases, He doesn't give us any timing at all! The only reason that we have some timing of this is because we keep the Sabbath and Holy Days of God. That's quite an interesting thing, indeed, when you understand it.
It's very interesting that both in the Psalms and in Isaiah we have more concerning the Kingdom of God in these two books than in any other books of the Bible. The whole thing in God's plan—#1 thing that He's going to do so that the whole world and us and everyone will know—no other way will work than God's way!
- whether it be government
- whether it be faith
- whether it be truth
- whether it be salvation
Only God's way!
Psalm 50:1: "The mighty God, God, the LORD, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God has shined forth" (vs 1-2).
As we saw in the Welcome message, that perfection will come during the Millennium. That's one stage of it. The next stage of it will be when there's the New Heaven and the New Earth, and New Jerusalem! That will be on the true spiritual Sion! The perfection of beauty and perfection of everything will emanate from there. We'll have a part in that!
Verse 3: "Our God shall come, and He shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, so that He may judge His people: 'Gather My saints unto Me… [the resurrection] …those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice'" (vs 3-5).
What is that sacrifice? Being, through the operation of baptism, joined to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ!That is the covenant! We need to:
- think about that
- understand that
- pray about it
- understand how our live are completely wrapped up in that
That's what God wants!
Verse 6: "And the heavens shall declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge. Selah."
What I would like you to do is take some time—maybe during the Feast; maybe later when you get home—and go through the Psalms and list out every place where it talks about:
- the Millennium
- God's rule
- God's Government
- what He's going to do
- God's reign
And see how much of the Psalms contain that!
Psalm 46:8: "Come, behold the works of the LORD who makes desolations upon the earth, Who makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth…" (vs 8-9). Think about that!
No war anywhere on earth! Think about how much money is spent on war, defense and weapons. I think about that because every once in a while I watch Forged in Fire where they make knives, swords and weapons of war and destruction. They test them out to see how they will kill, maim and destroy human life. Whenever I watch, I think: How much money, how much work, how many hours—before they had tanks and planes—did they have beating out swords, making swords, machetes and hatchets to kill?
Up to one-half of all economies in the world—everywhere through every age of the earth—has been to make weapons of war, because there's war! God "…makes wars to cease…"
Verse 9: "Who makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots in the fire."
That's going to be full employment, getting rid of all weapons! Think about what a thing that's going to be!
We will see how when God gives this that it fits right in with everything with the Millennium.
Psalm 45:1: "My heart overflows with a goodly matter; I speak of my works to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. You are more excellent than the children of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore, God has blessed You forever. Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, with Your glory and Your majesty. And ride victoriously in Your majesty in behalf of Truth and meekness and righteousness; and let Your right hand teach You awesome things" (vs 1-4).
It carries right on into what God is going to do, and this speaks of Jesus.
Verse 6: "Your Throne, O God, is forever and ever… [that was said of Jesus (Heb. 1)] …a scepter of justice is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness… [that's a proper kind of hate] …therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows" (vs 6-7).
Then it talks about the marriage of the Lamb and so forth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth! That's almost unbelievable to understand how that's going to be accomplished. That's why we're to be the kings and priests. That's why we're to rule in the cities and be the teachers. To make sure that everything is done according to the will of God!
- teach people to love God
- teach people not to rely on things like war, hate and killing
Here's what's going to happen when Christ returns:
Isaiah 2:1: "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass, in the last days the mountain of the LORD'S house…" (vs 1-2)—God's Government!
- remember that's where His Tabernacle will be
- remember that Christ and all the saints will descend upon the Mount of Olives
It will be lifted up and split in two and there will be a great canopy (Isa. 4) and a great tabernacle there. That's going to be something! The Tabernacle of God—during the Millennium—is going to be one of the greatest and most beautiful dwelling places in the world.
"…the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it" (v 2).
Everything is going to be coming to Jerusalem and back out to the people, coming to Jerusalem and back out to the people. That's going to be part of our work, to make sure that this gets done!
Verse 3: "And many people shall go and say…"
After seeing all the events that have taken place and the end of the Beast Power and armies, and seeing the glory of the Lord and the things that have come on the earth, "…many people shall go and say…":
"…'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways…'" (v 3)
Wonderful, they're willing, repentant and wanting to know:
- What is the way of the Lord?
- How do we do it?
"'…and we will walk in His paths.'.…" (v 3).
A complete restructuring of everything in the whole civilization of the Millennium. Everything made to order the way God desires it.
- in love
- in truth
- in blessing
For all families! That's what God wants! Those who are willing, there will be special blessings.
Verse 4: "And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people…"
There will be some who are not willing to yield to God, so He's going to have to rebuke them! He's going to have to bring things upon them so they will repent. Now, here's the great thing why there will be no more wars. Think of how long it's going to take to do this, when you consider everything:
- every weapon
- every tank
- every plane
- every canon
- every rocket
- every gun
- every pistol
- every bayonet
- every implement of war
All the people are going to be occupied by melting them down! That can't be done in this world, because there is too much evil! But in the Millennium, that's what's going to happen.
"…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares…" (v 4).
What's it going to be like to have really, really good food? Not spoiled with the chemicals, poisons and everything that they use to make money to sell food. Food that we will process ourselves. Food that people will process themselves. I'm sure that the way we have supermarkets today will not even be in existence during the Millennium. It will be fresh and nutritious and fully nourishing.
Just think about what that's going to be like; a world that has all the vitamins and things necessary already in the food and we don't have to take supplements and vitamins!
"…and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (v 4).
That will require the complete abolition of the toy industry as we know it today. The complete abolition of the games that children play on their smart phones or smart pad, which is war, killing and destruction. No more! None of that will be there!
Also, we will see as we go along, that God is going to give them a new heart of flesh; not a heart of cantankerous rebellion. So, all of this is necessary in order that there peace on the earth. This will continue a thousand years! Amazing! Quite amazing, indeed! "…neither shall they learn war anymore."
Talk to any veteran, anyone who has been in any war, or watch some of the documentaries on television, where it talks about what these men went through in fighting, warring, killing, shooting and stabbing; planning and sneaking up, all the things necessary to trap the enemy, or the enemy to trap you. You get into hand-to-hand combat and it's either you kill or be killed.
NO MORE! No more during the Millennium! Think about how great that's going to be.
(break@37:37)
Let's see some other things that must be done at the beginning of the Millennium. One of the most important things is to bring the children of Israel back to their countries.
Since God told Abraham to look to the north, the south, to the east and the west, and in Rom. 4 it says that Abraham understood that he would become the heir of the world. That's a pretty important post, don't you think? To bring them back to their country probably means like they are today, but re-established according to the Word of God. It wouldn't be possible to put them in all in area of the Middle East called the Holy Land.
Let's see how God has laid this out and how it's going to happen, because His Word is true and because He proposed it, it's going to happen.
As we will see He put a little bit here, a little bit there; He gave some understanding of it in Jeremiah and a lot of it in Isaiah. So, we'll look at those and see how it's going to be. God wants us to know!
One of the most important things we need to do in understanding the Word of God and that it is true—every word is true, every syllable and phrase is true—is to understand what He did in the past:
- bringing Israel out of Egypt
- setting them up in the Holy Land
- how all the prophecies were that when they would become so sinful that God would have to punish them and take them out of the land
It's going to happen again! Israel is going into captivity again. It's going to be an astonishing thing when it happens.
Isaiah 46:9: "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else…"—none else like Him! This was before He revealed the Father.
"…I am God, and there is none like Me… [this ties in with things that we know] …declaring the end from the beginning…" (vs 9-10).
Didn't Jesus say in Rev. that He's 'the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega'? Yes! Here is right here: "…declaring the end from the beginning…"
We know that before the ages of time God and Christ were working out this plan. That's amazing to think about. Brethren, don't get discouraged when things don't work out the way you want. They're all going to work out in the long run. God loves you, and if you love God it's going to work out. We are part of something so great, so fantastic, that it's really hard for us to comprehend.
Without the knowledge of the Sabbath and Holy Days, it would be impossible to even have an idea of it. But God in His mercy has given it in His Word!
"…and from ancient times the things, which were not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand…'" (v 10).
Can anyone go against God? No way! Well, look at what happened to Satan because of what he did. Where is he going to end up? "…My counsel shall stand…" Why? Because
- God is perfect
- God is righteous
- God is good
- God is love
Everything that He does is based upon that!
"…and I will do all My pleasure" (v 10). It's all going to come out to be very pleasant in the end! Of course, the end won't come until after the Millennium and he Great White Throne Judgment and then the New Heavens and New Earth and New Jerusalem. We'll get to that by day eight.
Verse 11: "Calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken…"
When God says so, it is! Whether it is to happen now, or shortly after, or way into the future!
"…I will also bring it to pass… [He's going to make it happen, and no one is going to turn it back] …I have purposed it, I will also do it" (v 11). Think of that!
How trustworthy is the Word of God? Think of this in relationship to what we need to do every day. God has declared, 'I will forgive your sins! Confess your sins and I will remember them no more forever.' Think about that!
- that's what He has proposed
- that's what He has said that He will do
- that's what He does do
This is why we need to constantly come to God in an attitude of love, service and yieldedness to Him! That is His purpose! That's what He's working in our lives so that we can change, grow and qualify to be the sons and daughters of God.
Nothing can be greater than that! This is the work that we're going to do in the Millennium.
Verse 12: "Hearken to Me, you stubborn-hearted who are far from righteousness."
God is saying that even those who are given to evil, listen! hear! 'Even though you're far away from Me, you can come to Me.' Think abut that!
Verse 13: "I bring near My righteousness. It shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not be delayed; and I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory."
Now, we're spiritual Israel! Then there's physical Israel. You have both. Think about what that means to us.
Most of Jeremiah is really a condemnation of their sins and everything that they were doing. How evil and wretched that they were, and how they needed to return to God.
But in Jer. 30 God shows that there's hope, because whenever there's correction there's hope. Wherever there's getting rid of something that isn't good, there's hope!
- hope brings faith
- faith brings the blessing of God
Let's see what God says after He condemned them for their sins, and what He's going to do sending them off to Babylon, destroy the city of Jerusalem and let Nebuchadnezzar burn the temple to the ground. Everything was terrible and awful. But those who went to Babylon He gave some grace and favor.
Now He shows there's coming a time when He's going to undo all of that.
Jeremiah 30:16: "So, all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your enemies, every one of them, shall go into captivity. And they who rob you shall be robbed, and all who strip you I will strip."
Now, here's the first thing that has to happen, because think about this: Think how all those people looked coming out of the concentration and death camps from the Nazis and the Japanese in WWII?
Verse 17: "For I will give health back to you…" First thing, heal them! That's going to be part of our job. One of the most important things we're going to be doing right at the start is:
- to heal
- to comfort
- to give people hope
"'…and will heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD; 'because they called you an outcast, saying, "This is Zion; no one cares for her."' Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I turn back the captivity of Jacob's tents, and will have mercy on his dwelling places. And the city shall be built on her ruins, and the palace shall remain in its own place. And out of them shall come thanksgiving, and the voice of those who rejoice. And I will multiply them… [What's that going to be like?] …and they shall not be few; I will also honor them, and they shall not be disdained. Also, their children shall be as they were before, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all who oppress them'" (vs 17-20).
God is going to correct it all! Bring Israel back wherever their countries are in the world today, He'll bring them back to their countries. We'll be the ones leading the way. We'll be the ones with the knowledge and instruction of what to do.
Verse 21: "'And their ruler shall be of themselves, and their governor shall come from among them… [that will be us] …and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach Me. For who is this who pledged his heart to come near to Me?' says the LORD."
That's an interesting thing! Who is it that pledged his heart to come to God? The one who comes to God and says:
O God, give me Your will, help me to follow You in all circumstance. Bless me with Your Truth, forgive me for my sins, help me to love You with all my heart, mind, soul and being!
That's what's going to happen! Not like the world today.
Verse 22: "And you shall be My people, and I will be your God."
Verse 23: "Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD'S wrath goes forth, a sweeping whirlwind; it shall whirl on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return until He has done it, and until He has fulfilled the purposes of His heart. In the latter days you shall understand it" (vs 23-24).
Isn't that something! That's quite a thing for us contemplate, brethren.
Jeremiah 31:1: "'At that time,' says the LORD, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.'"
After that is established, He shall be the God of all the people of the earth. We're going to be the ones—the sons and daughters, the kings and priest, the administrators, the teachers, the leaders—who will teach them! We will always:
- look to Jerusalem
- look to Jesus Christ
- look to everything that God sets up under that tabernacle
There will be Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the patriarchs and all of the prophets. They will be the leading administrators supposedly, under Christ. We don't know, but probably so. We won't be there that way, but we will be the firstfruits. We'll work to bring it to the whole world. What greater that can be done? There isn't any!
Verse 2: "Thus says the LORD, 'The people who were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I will go to give him rest.'" That's what the Feast of Tabernacles pictures:
- rest
- peace
- truth
- love
- righteousness
Verse 3: "The LORD has appeared to me from afar, saying, 'Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love…'"
Think about that! God's love is not unconditional, it is everlasting, meaning that down through all time. This goes clear down to the second resurrection, when those people are resurrected.
He loves them! He wants them to come to Him! That's what we'll be doing during the Millennium.
"…therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you. Again, I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel. You shall again put on your drums, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day that the watchmen on Mount Ephraim shall cry, 'Arise and let us go up to Zion to the LORD our God!'" (vs 3-6).
Yes, what a thing that's going to be! It's going to be a time such as we have never understood.
Verse 7: "For thus says the LORD, 'Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, "O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel."'"
And it starts with that sixth seal, beginning with the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude! That's an amazing thing to contemplate!
Verse 8: "Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the corners of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; a great company shall return there."
Isn't that something? They're going to be so happy, they're going to be so great after being oppressed and everything that they went through.
Verse 9: "They shall come with weeping, and with prayers I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way; they shall not stumble in it, for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.'"
Quite a thing! That's going to be magnificent, the exodus back out from the last war! That's going to be miraculous.
Verse 10: "Hear the Word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off. And say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him, as a shepherd keeps his flock.' For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of the one stronger than he. 'Therefore, they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and the herd. And their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not pine away anymore at all'" (vs 10-12).
Think about what that's going to be like. Brethren, that's our job to bring all of this to pass! That's something!
Notice that this is quite a chapter, and what God is going to do. It shows God's direct intervention, but we know that we're going to be helping to do that. God will give us the instruction:
- where to go
- what to do
- heal those who are sick
- replace the missing arms and legs
let there be
- miracles
- signs
- wonders
- healing
- love
- joy
- goodness
After suffering the pain and agony of war!
Verse 13: "'Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them and make them rejoice from their affliction…. [then it talks about us]: …And I will fill the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness,' says the LORD" (vs 13-14). Quite a tremendous thing!
There we have it. We will look at some more of it tomorrow—what's going to happen—but this is going to be a great thing. The greatest thing that we will ever experience in our lives when we're spirit beings to start out. Then it will only get better down through time, down through the ages.
Think about all the great and good things that are going to come from God, because of what He's going to do in bringing back the people.
One other thing God is going to do in order for this to take place. He's going to have to take away the stubbornness of the hardness of the carnal heart!
Read the whole chapter of Ezek. 36, but I want to cover this:
Ezekiel 36:22: "'Therefore, say to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My Holy name's sake…'" Because I [God] proposed it, I told it, I declared it, I'll bring it to pass!
"'...which you have profaned among the nations where you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD,' says the Lord GOD …" (vs 22-23).
The whole world is going to know it; they're going to understand it.
"…'when I shall be sanctified in you before their very eyes. For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all countries, and will gather you into your own land. And I will sprinkle clean waters upon you, and you shall be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols'" (vs 23-25).
In order for things to work in the Millennium, there has to be conversion and change. That's what God is going to bring them.
Verse 26: "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you…."
- not cantankerous
- not rebellious
- not carnal
"…And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you…" (vs 26-27)—conversion!
What is going to be like to have so many converted people? What a rejoicing that's going to be!
"…and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances and do them. And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be My people, and I will be your God" (vs 27-28).
This had to come, brethren, and only God can do it!
Verse 29: "I will also save you from all your uncleannesses, and I will call for the grain, and will increase it, and will lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruits of the tree and the increase of the field, so that you shall never again receive the curse of famine among the nations" (vs 29-30).
Now here is the key; all of this will come because God will grant them repentance:
Verse 31: "And you shall remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations."
Deep repentance! What a wonderful thing that is going to be.
Verse 32: "'I do not do this for your sake,' says the Lord GOD, 'be it known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.' Thus says the Lord GOD, 'In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the waste places shall be rebuilt'" (vs 32-33).
That is what God is going to do! We will see more about this tomorrow.
Have a wonderful evening! Fellowship with the brethren, and remember that we are to be known because we love each other as Christ has loved us!
Scriptural References:
- Leviticus 23:33-44
- Deuteronomy 16:16-17
- Isaiah 9:6-7
- Psalm 50:1-6
- Psalm 46:8-9
- Psalm 45:1-4, 6-7
- Isaiah 2:1-4
- Isaiah 46:9-13
- Jeremiah 30:16-24
- Jeremiah 31:1-14
- Ezekiel 36:22-33
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Numbers 29
- 2 Corinthians 9
- Hebrews 1
- Isaiah 4
- Romans 4
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/11/21
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