(FOT Day 7)
Fred R. Coulter—September 27, 2021
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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 7! The seventh day ends the Feast of Tabernacles. But because it's so good and there's so much to happen after it, that we have tomorrow, the eighth Day.
Let's cover what we need to cover concerning what's going to happen during the Millennium, and this will be all through the Millennium, as we will see as we go along.
First of all, the earth is going to be a terrible mess, everything all upside down and backward and destroyed.
We know that there's going to be the greatest reconstruction period beginning at the first of the Millennium and continuing right on to the end. Why? Because the eighth day is coming, and we need to prepare for all of those people who will be in the second resurrection!
Let's see what God says and how life is going to be, and it begins right here:
Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…."—at the beginning of the Millennium!
At the end of the Millennium and the eighth day we have the New Heavens and the New Earth spiritually! But this is not it.
"…And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind… [because it will be so great] …But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy" (vs 17-18).
Think about today, we don't have much joy or rejoicing. Why? Because we live in such a sinful world that is given over to selfishness and wontedness, worshipping Satan and living his ways!
Verse 19: "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."
That shows the voice of weeping and crying because of sin. There will probably weeping and crying because of joy. Have you ever cried for joy? Yes, indeed! I have and you have!
Verse 20—there will be lots of children: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days…"
They're all going to survive; they will survive the birth and grow up and no one is going to come along and kill them just because they are children. It's not WWII when the Germans came in to get rid of the Jews. Like the little boy sitting outside crying and everyone neglected him. No more of that!
"…nor an old man that has not filled his days…" (v 20).
How long is that going to be? So, we have here birth to the end of life!
"…for the child will die a hundred years old…" (v 20).
At 100-years-old you're not a child any longer, so that means that the child will live, become a full adult and have a 100-year lifespan.
"…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20).
So, there will still be sin! We'll see how we'll handle that in a little bit. Remember that all during the Millennium, those who are righteous, when they come to the point of being ready to enter into the Kingdom of God, then they will be changed. I'm sure that we're going to have a change of life ceremony from flesh to spirit. Think about what that's going to be like.
I've thought about this being on Pentecost before, but Pentecost is the firstfruits, so they're not included in that group. I suppose that we could say that the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles could be the day that we will have the ceremony and the transition from flesh to spirit. Here they've lived a hundred years, been faithful and now they're ready to enter into the Kingdom of God.
Just like those at the end of this age who are still alive when Christ returns, they will be changed 'in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye' and they will rise to meet Christ.
Well, in this case, they will rise to enter into the Kingdom of God, the spiritual Kingdom! The physical Kingdom on the earth is what we will be ruling through under Jesus Christ.
"…but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20).
Let's see that we're going to be teaching and training and everything will be organized. Remember that Satan is long gone into the abyss and sealed.
Isaiah 30:18: "And therefore, will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you. And therefore, He will be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you, for the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him." That's referring to us and Christ returning to the earth!
Here's what it's going to be all during the Millennium:
Verse 19: "For, O people, who dwell in Zion at Jerusalem, you shall weep no more; He will be very gracious to you at the voice of your cry. When He hears it, He will answer you."
So, when they cry out to God in prayer asking for help, God is going to answer. And we being those in the Family of God will be 'Gods' and will be answering and be there. I'm sure that there will be times when we make ourselves manifested, and times that we will be invisible. That will be quite a thing! Isn't that what happened to Jesus? Yes, indeed!
- He walked through the door
- He walked through the wall
When that happens that's going be quite a thing!
Verse 20: "And though the LORD gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction…"—bringing up thorough the Tribulation and so forth!
After that "…yet, your teachers shall not be removed into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers" (v 20). A totally different and completely Godly society!
- what a place to grow up
- what a place to live 100 years
That's quite a thing!
Verse 21: "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left." Completely different! That will be good!1:
- all in love
- all in truth
- all in righteousness
That's how it's going to be so we can teach the brethren, teach all of those coming into the Millennium.
Here's how it's going to be, very similar to Psa. 25, which is quite a Psalm, because it tells us about God's way, and we're going to be teaching God's way.
Let's understand that we will have the Bible, and how much more God will have for us:
- in the way of teaching
- in the way of training
- in the way of understanding
They are going to be so smart it's going to be unreal!
We will have things that will be so great that everyone can reach the maximum potential in the physical life that they can, before they come to the 100-year period and then enter into the Kingdom of God. That's going to be something!
Today, all we have is the Bible. But remember Isa. 11, that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God as the seas cover the earth! Think about that! What a glorious time that will be! Only those who are in the first resurrection will be the ones who will be teaching this knowledge.
Think about this, we'll also be learning as sons and daughters of God. We will understand even more! So, it's going to be a magnificent time, unheard of in all the history of the world!
Psa. 25 aptly describes, I think, what's going to happen as we're teaching the people in the Millennium.
Psalm 25:1: "To You, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You…" (vs 1-2). Think how much trust they will be able to have then!
"…do not let me be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me" (v 2).
Who will the enemies be during the Millennium? We will see in a little bit! The enemy will be their sins!
Verse 3: "Yea, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause."
That will happen during the Millennium, too! But it's not going to be tolerated, as we will see when it happens. We'll tell them: 'No, no, no, this is the way to walk in it.' We will see what happens if they persist.
Verse 4: "Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths."
That will be the whole thrust of all of our educational process for those who are in the Millennium.
Verse 5: "Lead me in Your Truth…."
See why that's important for us today? Because we're going to have to do it in the Millennium!
"…and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You do I wait all the day long" (v 5)—complete devotion to God!
All the sons and daughters of God as teachers, kings, priests and administrators. The whole structure of the government in the world will be completely different!
Verse 6: "Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindness, for they have been of old."
There will be mercy and forgiveness! Remember that it says, 'before you call, I will answer.'
Verse 7: "Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your loving kindness remember me for Your goodness sake, O LORD"—showing:
- repentance
- forgiveness
- restitution or coming back
Verse 8: "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, He will teach sinners in the way."
- What are we going to do with sinners? Remember that it says that they can die as old as a hundred!
- What are we going to do when there are sinners?
- What if there's a no repentance?
As we will see, God is still giving us free moral agency and all the people in the Millennium free moral agency. So with that, there will be sin! But it's not going last long! We'll see what happens if there's no repentance, because that's the key.
Verse 9: "The meek He will guide in judgment… [that's us] …and the meek He will teach His way"—that's us!
God will do this to us, and we will do that to the people! It will be a tremendous and magnificent way.
Verse 10: "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and Truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies."
So, when we come to the covenant of the Millennium, that's going to be another New Covenant itself! It will incorporate many of the things that we already know in the New Covenant. But with all the knowledge of God, and all the Truth of God, it's going to be something really, really good.
Since we mentioned that there was sin, how does sin come about? Because of choice! God is not going to take away free moral agency. He's not going to make everyone in the Millennium robots. He doesn't want robots.
- He wants us to think
- He wants us to know
- He wants us to love
- He wants us to obey
That's what we're going to teach in the Millennium so that they can enter into the Kingdom of God!
Let's read Deut. 30 in the context of the Millennium, even though this was given to the children of Israel just before they went into the 'promised land.'
Deuteronomy 30:9: "And the LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in every work of your hand…" Apply that to the Millennium!
Think about what the economic situation is going to be. It is going to be so marvelous! So, you can say, based upon what we have, how is human nature going to respond? Some will respond enthusiastically, wholeheartedly and thankfully. Some will respond with, 'Well, look at me.' How are we going to handle that? We'll see!
"…in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your land, for good, for the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers" (v 9).
Notice the requirement; free choice is involved, because during the Millennium everything we read in v 9 will be there.
- How are people going to respond?
- What is it going to be like?
Here is the condition:
Verse 10: "If you shall obey the voice of the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes, which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."
That's what we are to do, here is the condition. You cannot have condition without choice.
Verse 11: "For this commandment, which I command you today is not hidden from you, neither is it far off."
That sure is going to true during the Millennium. It's going to be right there in front of them all the time! Think on that!
Verse 12: "It is not in heaven that you should say, 'Who shall go up to heaven for us, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, 'Who shall go over the sea for us to bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it?'" (vs 12-13).
Remember, your teachers you will see! So, whatever the choice is to not do the will of God is going to be more deliberate than today. Today there's a sinful world and there is Satan the devil. In the Millennium, not so!
This is so true, v 14: "But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it."
They will all know! All of them, whether they're righteous or sinners! They will have no excuse!
Verse 15: "Behold, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil."
There's still death, because a sinner will die a hundred. The one who is righteous will die a hundred, but the one who is righteous will enter into the Kingdom of God. But it says that the sinner who dies a hundred will be accursed, which means you looking at the Lake of Fire. So, here are the choices:
- Will there be repentance? Yes, if they see the error of their way, there's repentance!
- Will they be able to receive forgiveness? Yes, they will, because God is gracious and ready to forgive, always.
- Can the sinners be restored to the community? Yes, they will!
Verse 16: "In that I command you this day to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments…" That's always what we're going to be teaching!
"…and His statutes and His judgments so that you may live and multiply. And the LORD your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it" (v 16).
Now then, there's a warning, and there has to be a warning. Remember that the teachers will say, 'No, no, don't go to the right hand or to the left hand.' That's a warning! So, they can be brought back and not sin.
Verse 17: "But if your heart turn away so that you will not hear… [that's a choice] …but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them."
There won't be any other gods allowed, so we're going to see what the gods are that they will be confronted with. He says if you don't repent:
Verse 18: "I denounce to you this day that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days on the land where you pass over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live, that you may love…" (vs 19-20).
Here's the whole thing; everything of God gets back to loving God!
"…the LORD your God, and may obey His voice, and may cleave to Him; for He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land, which the LORD swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give it to them" (v 20).
Remember that Rom. 4 says that Abraham knew he was going to be heir of the world! So, this is clear around the world! All of this God's way!
Let's see where the sin will be, since there will not be any other gods allowed, what are the idols that people will set up? Since they won't be allowed to be set up out in the open where everybody can see them, where will they be set up?
Ezek. 14 tells us a principle that's very important, then we will see what will happen to those who sin and don't repent.
Ezekiel 14:1: "And some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me."
Here are all the leaders and important people taken off into captivity because of their sins, but they're still arrogant and important in their own eyes.
Verse 2: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man…'" Here will be the major sin!
Where does sin always begin? In the mind! Choice! Since they will still have the law of sin and death within them—maybe not as powerful as in this age, but it will still be there—they will have choices to make. Since they can't do it overtly, outside, what do they do? They do it here in their mind! Then they will find someone else who agrees with them.
"…these men have set up their idols in their hearts…" (v 2).
Idols in the heart will be one of the biggest sins that leads them to overt sins. We will see what happens when it gets to be overt sins! Even today, for those of us today in this age, we cannot have an outward behavior that people see and say, 'Oh, look at him, look at her, how great and nice they are.' But inside is what God is judging! Not what's outside!
"…and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I at all be inquired of by them? Therefore, speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart… [not only just the leaders, but any man or woman] …and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him according to the multitude of his idols"'" (vs 2-4). That's what too many people have!
Verse 5: "So that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart because they have deserted Me for their idols—all of them." During the Millennium it will few!
We will see what is God going to do with those who are evil and don't repent? Repentance is a choice! If they choose not to repent, how is God going to handle it so that they whole of the community, or however large a population may be there, will not be affected by it.
(break@33:50)
Let's see how God is going to handle deliberate sin! Let's look at the original sin with Adam and Eve. They sinned by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
What did God do? He cast them out of the garden so they are removed from the presence of God! That will happen during the Millennium. If someone sins and doesn't repent, they will be removed. We will see that there are several steps in this. When they're removed, maybe there will be something like repentance centers so that they can:
- see the error of their ways
- study the Word of God
- fast and pray
- repent of their sins
- be brought back into society
- What if they don't repent?
- What happens then?
Let's look at the situation with Cain and Abel. They were already removed out of the Garden of Eden, because Adam and Eve were removed from the garden and God put cherubim with flaming swords so they couldn't enter in.
What happened when Cain killed Abel? God removed him further in exile to the land of Nod, the land of wandering; cut off completely from God!
We will see that there will be a place like that during the Millennium. What happens if there's no repentance? We read in Isa. 65 that they'll die accursed waiting for the Lake of Fire! We see that whenever there is sin God gives punishment, and the punishment is removal!
- When the ten tribes of Israel sinned, were they removed? Yes!
- When Judah sinned, were they removed? Yes!
- When Solomon sinned—
And Solomon's sin was not one of maliciousness to begin with, but he disobeyed God starting right off and marrying an Egyptian. Then he has 700 wives and 300 concubines and they turned his heart away from God.
- What did God do? After Solomon died, He took the ten tribes away and gave them to Jeroboam!
Let's see something important. When we look at this in Revelation it helps us understand something about how God is going to deal with it. This is at the end of the thousand years:
Revelation 20:7: "Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison." What for?
Remember that the Millennium comes to and end; you have to have an end. So, IF you have those who have sinned who haven't had time to live a hundred years and die, THEN you've got to get rid of them. That's what this is about, and we'll come back to it in a little bit.
Verse 8: "And he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog…"
Gog and Magog is referring to the geographical area of Gog and Magog, not the people! All during the Millennium different people from different nations will all be entering into the Kingdom of God, even those from Gog and Magog.
IF it were Gog and Magog the people, THEN God would be a respecter of persons. Since God is not a respecter of persons, it has to be Gog and Magog, the geographical area. That is the final place of exile! When a person sins and doesn't repent, that's where they will go. They will be removed!
Job is very interesting for us, because his sin against God is a type of what will probably be the most frequent sin. That is a combination of the idol in the mind, and the idol in his mind, which is own righteousness. Even though his righteousness may have been in accordance with the Word of God, he gave himself all the credit and didn't give any credit to God.
During the Millennium, everyone is going to know God. Everyone is going to know right and wrong, so there will be love and obedience, all of this that will be there.
Job 1:1: "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil." That was true!
But what happened after he saw that he was righteous. We will see that it went to his head as an idol in his mind! And it took an awful lot for him to repent!
Job had seven sons and a lot of possessions, and things like that. He even offered sacrifices for his sons 'in case' they sinned. Well, no one can offer sacrifices for anyone else, they have to come and repent and offer their sacrifice. So, Job was trying to be righteous and even more righteous thinking that he could make up for the sins of his own sons. Well, that didn't happen!
Verse 6: "Now, there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD. And Satan also came among them."
God uses Satan do some of His correction! During the Millennium, Satan won't be there to do any of the correction, except right at the end, as we saw in Rev. 20.
Verse 7: "And the LORD said to Satan…"
God knew what was in Job's heart, but God also knew that in the letter of the Law—outwardly—Job was very righteous. Inwardly, he was extremely self-righteous, which is sin! Why? We'll see!
"…'From where do you come?' Then Satan answered the LORD and said, 'From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it'" (v 7).
Like it says, 'he's like a roaring lion wandering around seeking whom he may devour!'
Verse 8: "And the LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil?'"
Yes, he was; but God also knew the secret of heart, which He didn't tell Satan the devil. Satan couldn't see it either.
Verse 9: "And Satan answered the LORD and said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land'" (vs 9-10).
So, Lord, do this. Let's see, is he really, really righteous?
Verse 11: "But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.' And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay your hand upon him.' And Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD" (vs 11-12).
Now then, look at what happened! That was quite a thing! Everything in one day was taken!
Verse 13: "Now, there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house. And there came a messenger to Job and said, 'The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away. Yea, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. And I only have escaped alone to tell you'" (vs 13-15).
You talk about difficulties coming like waves one upon another, here you go.
Verse 16: "While he was still speaking, there also came another and said, 'The fire of God has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and destroyed them. And I only have escaped alone to tell you.'"
- Did you know that Satan can bring fire down from heaven?
- Does it remind of something like Rev. l3?
Verse 17: "While he was still speaking, there also came another and said, 'The Chaldeans formed three bands and swooped down upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. And I only have escaped alone to tell you.' While he was still speaking… [here comes #4]: …there also came another and said, 'Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house. And, behold, a great wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead. And I only have escaped alone to tell you'" (vs 17-19).
Verse 20: "And Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped. And he said, 'Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.' In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly" (vs 20-22).
Then you know what happened, Satan came back before the LORD, and the LORD said, 'Look at Job, he didn't curse Me.'
Satan said, 'Ah, skin for skin! You let me strike him, and he will curse you to Your face.' God said, 'All right, he's in your hands, only you can't take his life.'
Job 2:7: "And Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the top of his head." That's quite an affliction, indeed!
Verse 8: "And he took a broken piece of pottery to scrape himself with…."
For what? Boils! You've got pus and scrape the top of it and the pus oozes out to relieve some of the pain. But all over! He must have been a frightful sight to see! But he was so self-righteous he still didn't get the point! But he still didn't curse God!
Verse 9: "And his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold to your integrity? Curse God and die!'…. [Thank you, wife!] …But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips" (vs 9-10). Think of that! It doesn't say his mind!
Then Job's three friends came and sat down and looked at him for seven days, just staring at him in his horrible suffering. Job cursed the day that he was born and rambled on about all the things that took place (Job 3). How bitter it was!
Job 3:24: "For my sighing comes instead of my food, and my groanings are poured out like the waters. For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me… [think about that] …and that which I was afraid of has come to me" (vs 24-25).
Then he understood! All the possessions and everything he had was no protection for him. Then every one of the three men began.
Eliphaz the Temanite was the first one, and he couldn't tell Job. Al the way through all of these different things, they could not convict Job of sin.
Let's fast forward to see how all of this came about. It's interesting that the way that they did it was in such a way that they couldn't really analyze what Job had done. They said, 'Job, you have sinned.' No, I haven't sinned! 'Yes, you have sinned.'
We begin to see everything that happened to Job. He says all the way through the first part, 'If, if, if… If my behavior wasn't right.' If all the way down.
Job 31:21: "If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless when I watched over my help in the gate; then let my arm fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from the elbow. For calamity from God is a terror to me, and by reason of His majesty I could do nothing" (vs 21-23).
Notice that all the way down it's if I; that shows you that he was idolizing himself and his behavior. He was self-righteous in his ways. Think about that during the Millennium that there will be people who will be good. There will be people who will have good lives. But they're going to accredit it themselves instead of God! That's going to be a big sin to overcome!
Verse 24: "If I have made gold my hope…
Verse 25: "If I rejoiced because my wealth…"
Verse 26: "If I beheld the sun when it shined…"
Verse 29: "If I rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me…"
Verse 31: If the men of my tabernacle did not say…"
Verse 33: "If I covered my transgressions like Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom."
Notice Job's plea, because he said previously that he thought his righteousness was equal to God, and wanted an umpire to come and reason between God and Job to present Job's case, that he was 'really righteous.'
In all of this Job forgot that he was not righteous because of himself; he was righteous because He was keeping the commandments of God, and God was the One Who made it possible! God was the One Who blessed him!
So, during the Millennium, there are going to be a lot of people that their biggest sin is going to be self-righteousness, because they've grown up in this wonderful system and goodness that we have in the Millennium. Guess what? Some of them are going to attribute it all to themselves! Some will begin to say that they're just as good as 'so and so' and 'they're going into the Kingdom of God. Why not me? Look what I have done?'
The truth is that everything we do comes from God. If we use it to do righteousness, that again comes from God. The choice is what we make! That's what's important. Not just want we do, because if we do what God says, what does He say? If you brag upon that, you'll have to say that you're worthless servants! You have done that which was commanded of you!
Verse 35: "Oh, that I had one to hear me! Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me, and the indictment that my adversary had written. Surely I would carry it on my shoulder, and bind it like a crown upon my head. I would declare to Him the number of my steps; like a prince I would come before Him" (vs 35-37). That's how self-righteous Job was!
He goes on, and we'll find out here in the next couple of chapters how God answers.
Verse 38: "'If my land cry against me, or its furrows weep together; if I have eaten its strength without paying for it, or have caused its owners to lose their life, let thorns come forth instead of wheat, and weeds instead of barley.' The words of Job are ended" (vs 38-40).
Job 32:1: "And these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes."
After Elihu had a few words against Job; Job 35:1: "And Elihu answered and said, 'Do you think this to be right, you that say, "My righteousness is more than God's"?'" (vs 1-2).
How can that be? That's quite a thing! That's self-righteousness! So, Elihu summed it up this way:
Verse 15: "And now because it is not so, He has visited in anger yet he does not understand even his great extremity."
Even though this all happened, Job didn't understand his self-righteousness!
Verse 16: "Therefore, does Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplies his words without knowledge."
When Job said that he wished that God would come and speak to him, God did! It changed! We look at this, because this will cause a lot of people to not repent!
- when the don't repent, they're removed
- when they don't repent with the first removal, they're removed further
- then they're exiled
Exiled to where? To the territory of Gog and Magog! If they live out their lives of a 100 years, they die accursed and are buried in Gog and Magog!
Job 38:1: "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man; for I will demand of you, and you shall answer Me" (vs 1-3).
Look at what God started with, way beyond just the righteousness of what human beings are supposed to follow. He starts with the creation. 'You think you're so smart, Job?'
Verse 4: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare it if you have understanding!"
You don't even know, Job! You don't even have a thought in your head about it!
Verse 5: "Who has determined its measurements if you know? Or who has stretched the line upon it? On what are the foundations fastened to? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (vs 5-7).
After God mentions many other things, He says this:
Verse 16[transcriber's correction]: "Have you entered into the springs of the sea?…."
Job, if you're so important and powerful, have you entered into the springs of the sea? Have you gone down in the depths of the ocean?
God can do that, no problem with that. But Job said that his righteousness was more than God's! So, God is challenging him in things that He knows Job cannot answer, because he's not righteous!
Job doesn't have the righteousness of accrediting God for the ability to keep everything that made him righteous. That all comes from God! That's going to be one of the greatest lessons during the Millennium!
"…Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been opened to you?…." (vs 16-17).
Have you been able to figure out why people die? Yet, God is able to make them alive!
"…Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you surveyed the breadth of the earth? Declare it, if you know it all!" (vs 17-18).
Tell us, Job, IF you're so righteous and so good, and everything that you have done is because you are so important, because you are so righteous!
Job forgot that he got all that righteousness from God!
Now, here's the finality of it, and what brought Job to repentance:
Job 40:1: "And the LORD answered Job and said, 'Shall he who contends with the Almighty instruct Him?….'" (vs 1-2). Is anyone going to instruct God?
Sidebar: Think about that in relationship to all the traditions of men in religion and 'Christianity' that they have invented themselves, which is their own self-righteousness, and has nothing to do with God! Yet, they think that it is right!
You can start with every sin that they do, and they are blinded to their own self-righteousness and will not admit the truth!
"…He who reproves God… [Do you want to correct God?] …let him answer it." No man is going to correct God, because He's perfect! All righteousness comes from Him!
Verse 3: "And Job answered the LORD and said, 'Behold, I am vile!….'" (vs 3-4). Job finally came to himself and understood that his own human nature was vile!
"…What shall I answer You? I [Job] will lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken; but I will not answer; yea, twice, but I will proceed no further" (vs 4-5).
See how God answers him, because IF you were truly righteous—righteous like God is righteous—THEN you would be God! That's what he's saying! So, God is saying to Job, 'If you think you're God, try this on for size:'
Verse 6: "And the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 'Gird up your loins now like a man. I will demand of you, and you declare unto Me. Will you even annul My judgment?…. [that's what Job did with his self-righteousness] …Will you condemn Me so that you may be righteous?'" (vs 6-8).
That's something! That's what Job was doing! Think about how that will be during the Millennium when so many people will be righteous?
Verse 9: "And have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Deck yourself now with majesty and excellency, and array yourself with glory and beauty. Cast abroad the rage of your wrath; and behold everyone who is proud, and abase him" (vs 9-11).
Let's see you do that, Job! Show us if you're righteous.
Verse 12: "Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in darkness. Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you" (vs 12-14). No it can't! There's no salvation outside of God!
Let's see Job's final summary of all this; Job 42:1: "And Job answered the LORD and said, 'I know that You can do all things, and that no thought can be withheld from You'" (v 1-2).
Think about that! That is going to be so true during the Millennium when we're dealing with people.
Verse 3: "You asked, 'Who is he who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore, I have spoken that which I did not understand… [repentance] …things too wonderful for me; yea, which I did not know." Job is saying, 'I was stupid!' Think on that!
Verse 4: "Hear, I beseech You, and I will speak; You said, 'I will ask of you, and you will declare to Me.' I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You [God]…. [instead of me] …Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (vs 4-6).
He can be reinstated, which he was. God blessed Job with twice of what he had before. Blessed him with the most beautiful daughters that ever were on the face of the earth. He was restored!
Let's finish the story of what's going to happen to those who don't repent, and why God releases Satan out of his prison. He does so because there's one more mission that God wants Satan to accomplish. That will be when the Millennium comes to a close.
Revelation 20:7: "Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; and he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog…" (vs 7-8).
These are the exiled ones, the last generation. Out there in Gog and Magog are the graves of those who live to be 100 or less because of their sins and didn't repent and were buried there.
"...of whom the number is as the sand of the sea…" (v 8). So, there's a lot, especially that last 100 years of the Millennium that people will just take so much for granted.
- they won't be humbled
- they won't be yielded
- they won't learn their lesson
- they will think that they are righteous
'How can God take this person in who wasn't as good as me, but He condemns me?'
- because you're just like Job
- you're self-righteous and you give no credit to God
- you're jealous
This is in the territory of Gog and Magog!
"…of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (v 8).
That is the first thing that Satan always does; war! War against God! Satan is going to be loosed and come to them and say:
Ah, I'm finally out! What they're doing down in Jerusalem… He going to say of himself, 'I'm the true God, now let's go down there. They're all disarmed. They don't know what they're doing. We can take it over! Then we will run the world! We will show God what to do!
Verse 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints… [probably during the Feast of Tabernacles] …and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them all."
- What did this facilitate for all of those who were exiled and banished to Gog and Magog? This facilitated their first death!
- Why is this necessary? Because the incorrigible wicked from every generation must die twice!
That is the second death! That's what this accomplished!
The final judgment and sentencing of Satan the devil completes the Millennium. He must be judged and removed—and the demons with him—forever!
That must be done before the resurrection of the Great White Throne Judgment, that is the second resurrection; we'll cover that tomorrow.
Verse 10: "And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast…"
That was right at the end of the age and at the beginning of the Millennium. They had been cast there, and since the beast and the false prophet were flesh and blood, they were burned up!
"…and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity: (v 10).
How are they going to be tormented? We'll see! Satan's fate has come upon him. He's going to be banished and removed forever. His torment is going to be greater than the Lake of Fire!
Jude answers the question: What's going to happen to them, Satan and the demons? This is mixed in with how Satan has used people!
Jude 6: "And the angels who did not keep their own original domain…"
Where was that? We're not told! You may have some thoughts on it, but we'll have to wait for the resurrection to find out where that was.
"…but deserted their habitation, He is holding in eternal bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the Great Day" (v 6). Keep darkness in mind!
Verse 7: "Just as Sodom and Gomorrah—and the cities surrounding them, in the same manner as them—having given themselves over to sexual debaucheries, and having gone after different flesh, are themselves exhibited as a perpetual example of undergoing the punishment of eternal fire." So, they go into the Lake of Fire first!
Verse 8: "In the same way also, these dreamers of filthy dreams are defiling the flesh, and are declaring as invalid the Lordship of God, and are blaspheming the Divine powers. But Michael the archangel, when he was personally taking issue with the devil, disputing about the body of Moses…" (vs 8-9).
Think about what Satan could have done if he would have gotten the body of Moses!
"…did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment against him, but said, 'The Lord Himself rebuke you!' As for these, whatever things they do not understand, they blaspheme; but whatever things they understand by instinct, as irrational brute beasts, they are corrupting themselves in these things. Woe to them! For they have walked in the way of Cain… [going clear back to the beginning] …and for gain, they have wholly given themselves up to Balaam's delusion, and haveperished in the rebellion of Korah" (vs 9-11).
It's talking about those people who are going to be cast in to the Lake of Fire!
Verse 12: "These are subversive stains in your love feasts, feasting in person together with you; fearlessly they are feeding themselves. They are clouds without water…"
Listen carefully! All of these demons have no substance of truth!
"…being driven by the winds; trees of late autumn, without any fruit, uprooted, twice dead" (v 12).
That's talking about a combination of demons and humans for the Lake of Fire.
Verse 13: "Raging waves of the sea, casting up like foam their own ignominious shame; wandering stars… [demons] …for whom has been reserved the blackest darkness forever!"
That's the final judgment of Satan and the demons! Removed completely before the second resurrection begins. Some people have speculated that outer darkness may be like a black hole where it is so dark and so powerful that they cannot get out of it. It will be the forever ever and ever because they are spirit beings.
For all of us in the Family of God, it is for us to know the way of God is the only way! So, this ends the Millennium in a very dramatic way!
Come back tomorrow for the good news of the second resurrection!
Scriptural References:
- Isaiah 65:17-20
- Isaiah 30:18-21
- Psalm 25:1-10
- Deuteronomy 30:9-20
- Ezekiel 14:1-5
- Revelation 20:7-8
- Job 1:1, 6
- Job 2:7-10
- Job 3:24
- Job 31:21-26, 29, 31, 33, 35-40
- Job 32:1
- Job 33:1-2, 15-16
- Job 38:1-7, 16-18
- Job 40:1-14
- Job 42:1-6
- Revelation 20: 7-10
- Jude 6-13
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Isaiah 11
- Romans 4
- Revelation 13
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/25/21
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