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(LGD - 2021)
Fred R. Coulter—September 28, 2021
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the Last Great Day! We've had seven days of the great Feast of Tabernacles, and today is the Last Great Day! We will see what a great and fantastic day that this will be in its fulfillment. Quite a thing! Very powerful!
Yet, it is the greatest secret of God! Also, it will be the greatest work of the salvation of God. Lev. 23 doesn't tell us any of those things that I just said. It is the least mentioned of any Feast day.
We have quite a bit of instruction on Pentecost, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Notice that it's buried in amongst the Feast of Tabernacles.
Leviticus 23:34: "'Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD…. [we kept that] …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… [that's when they had the temple sacrifices] …to the LORD. On the eighth day…" (vs 34-36).
Notice that this is the only place among the commanded assemblies… Now, it's mentioned in Num. 29 for the offerings.
"…shall be a Holy convocation to you. And 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).
That one sentence, the eighth day… Most people, if they would read it, they would say that's interesting. But they wouldn't know what it means.
God repeats it again. Remember that if God repeats something, then it's important. It's important if He just says it once, but if He repeats it, it's really important.
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 shall be a Sabbath." That's today!
On the Holy Days we take up an offering. An offering should be that you have prepared for it, planned for it. You give it to God asking His blessing on it.
We receive the money and ask His blessing on it and spend it in a way that will be the most profitable, indeed, to produce the most for every bit of funds that comes in to the Church.
Because we have a lot of things to cover today, we're not going to go through how you should give an offering. I'll let you determine that before God!
(pause for the offering)
Now let's see something about God. God wants to be known, but how does He make Himself known? By the things that He has made, which demonstrates His power and Godhead!
But men don't want God! No, no, no! We don't want God. They don't know what they're rejecting! This is why—especially this Last Great Day—this is so monumentally important, and the greatest day of salvation that God's wants us to search it out!
Yes, He will lead us to it! Why? Because it says, 'Blessed are those who keep His commandments; they shall have a good understanding! At the time of the end the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand! Why won't they understand? We will see in just a minute!
Proverbs 25:2: "The glory of God is to conceal a thing…"
We just read about that; how much did you get out of reading about the 8th day? Virtually nothing except that it's a Holy Convocation and Sabbath!
"…but the honor of kings is to search out a matter" (v 2). Think about that for a minute!
Though He can be known and all of His work can be seen, God hides Himself!
- Why does He do that?
- Why does God hide Himself?
- Because men choose to go their own way!
They don't want to keep God's commandments and His laws. They want their own way and their own religion and Christianity, and everything modified by intellectuals, theologians!
Isaiah 45:15: "Truly You are a God Who hides Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior."
Men want to save themselves the way they want to do it. That leaves out God. In some cases, God is like a price tag on a piece of merchandise. It means nothing to them; it's all their own efforts.
But God is a God Who is going to reveal Himself to the whole world!
- How does God hide Himself, yet, reveal Himself?
- What is the difference? He hides Himself because people don't want Him! But those:
- who call upon the name of the Lord in sincerity and truth
- repent and yield to God
- determine that they want to do the will of God
then He opens their mind to things in the Bible! If they continue to do the things that are in the Bible, here a key: whenever you read something in the Bible that you understand, you are bound by God to believe it and do it!
Look what has happened to Christianity in the world because they want it their way! They have the Bible, they have some understanding, but why are they blind? We'll see right here in Matt. 13. Jesus tells His disciples why He's not speaking clearly to the people. Though they say they want God, they want the blessings of God, the healing of God, are they willing to love and obey God?That's the question!
Matthew 13:11: "And He answered and said to them, 'Because it has been given to you…'"
- Why has it been given to us?
- Why was it given to the apostles?
They received some, and down through time we learn more, and here at the end-time, we have the greatest understanding of all!
Think of the responsibility that that brings upon us! Think how great what God is revealing to us. This day will answer the most profound questions that people have of God and what He's going to do about it!
"…'Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given'" (v 11).
Notice what happens. This is an automatic law, and everything about God is automatic.
Verse 12: "For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given…"
Why? Because when you love God and keep His commandments, understand what He's doing through the Holy Days and Sabbath, God will give more understanding if you are faithful and continue in that!
But here's the other side of the coin; "…but whoever does not have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him" (v 12).
We will see that in the near future when the beast finally comes on the scene. Those who have some understanding, it's going to go away in the euphoria of this 'great man doing great things.'
Verse 13: "For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not…"
They love to hear the nice words of God, but when it comes down to 'remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy' and keep the Feast days of God…. Oh no! There are all kind of excuses! 'These are just ritual days' Really? How do you know? They're not just ritual day! They are commanded!
"…neither do they understand" (v 13).
Notice what this does, because here is the key point: Anytime you know something from the Word of God, and you understand it, you need to obey!
Look what they do with the Sabbath and Holy Days! Every time they keep Sunday and the holidays of this world, they entrench themselves in their disbelief and blindedness more than ever before!
Look at the leaders of Judaism; look what has happened to them! Judaism has lost all contact with God, lost all knowledge with God, because they have poured, like concrete, their traditions over the Word of God, and no one can get to the Word of God! And it started right back here in the days of Jesus Christ, because He came as a Savior, He came as 'That Prophet.'
John 12:37: "Although He had done so many miracles in their presence, they did not believe in Him."
- Why?
- Why didn't they believe in Him?
- Because He did not politically join them!
Jesus let them know how their traditions reject the commandments of God!
Verse 38: "So that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled who said, 'Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?'"
Think about al that was going on during the days of Jesus:
- thousands and thousands healed
- great miracles being done
- Jesus preaching at the temple for three solid years on various occasions
And because they weren't willing to repent their eyes were closed! That's what happened!
Verse 39: "For this very reason they could not believe because again Isaiah said, 'He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their hearts, and be converted…'" (vs 39-40).
That's a hard one to take! That Jesus Who came to saved people and convert them, didn't want them converted. This Last Great Day unlocks that mystery.
"…and I would heal them" (v 40).
Because of that, a lot of them would like to have believed in Him, but they were afraid of their fellow rabbis in the synagogue and what they would think of them. So, they didn't follow Him.
2-Cor. 4—this tells something about the ministry, how Paul had to conduct himself.
2-Corinthians 4:1: "Therefore, having this ministry, according as we have received mercy, we are not fainthearted. For we have personally renounced the hidden things of dishonest gain, not walking in cunning craftiness… [no politics] …nor handling the Word of God deceitfully… [to please men] …but by manifestation of the Truth…" (vs 1-2).
Remember that it is always the Truth of God, the Truth of God, the Truth of God, and nothing else!
"…we are commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. But if our Gospel is hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing" (vs 2-3). They're going to die without salvation, but later God will have mercy on them!
Verse 4: "In whom the god of this age… [Satan the devil] …has blinded the minds of those who do not believe…" We must believe the Word of God!
Notice why Satan the devil does this; "…lest the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (v 4).
That seems to be a contradiction that we find in 2-Pet. 3. We know that God has blinded and hardened the heart of the Israelites so that He could have mercy upon them.
We find an interesting thing in 2-Pet. 3. think about this: Today God has only called those who answer the call, who will repent and keep the commandments of God and love Him. Those who continue in the faith and continue to believe until they come to the end of their lives and then await the resurrection.
If we're fortunate enough to live to the time of the resurrection and we're still alive, then we will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and raised to meet Christ in the air. However, God has blinded the whole world, yet, He says this; does this make Him a liar?
2-Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not delaying the promise of His coming, as some in their own minds reckon delay…"
He's not, because God never revealed His schedule in great detail. We have the outline of it with the Holy Days, but we don't know the details.
"…rather, He is longsuffering toward us, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (v 9). How are all going to come to repentance?
- when they live they live their lives and die?
- when they are blinded and didn't know?
- when they thought that they were really Christians, but they weren't?
How is God going to solve that problem? Let's add to all of that:
- wars
- abortions
- accidents
- floods
- disasters
All of the things that take human life!
You don't have to be like a Baptist minister and say, 'Well, if you don't belong to this church you're going to burn in hell forever!' The Bible doesn't teach that!
- What did it say here? That all should come to repentance!
- How can they come to repentance if they're dead?
Let's see it again. This is stated by God, and this is what He wants. How is He going to bring it about?
1-Timothy 2:4: "Who {God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth."
How is that going to happen? The greatest majority of all human beings fall into that category! They have died and did not have a chance. So, why does God have this verse here? Either this verse is true, or it's a lie. But remember that no lie can come of the Truth!
One sentence begins to answer the question. That's why this day, the Last Great Day, is called The Last Great Day, because anyone who comes to Jesus will be saved. Amazing, indeed!
Revelation 20:4 talks about the first resurrection: "…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
But notice v 5; one phrase, which is really amazing: "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed…."
Who are "…the rest of the dead…"? We know that in 1-Cor. 15 it tells us about us.
1-Corinthians 15:20: "But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the Firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die…" (vs 20-22).
Everyone has to die except the few at the end who are still alive and converted. They'll be changed in 'a moment, in the twinkling of an eye' and that means that when they're changed, it will be an instantaneous death and transformation. You have to die in Adam. Everyone has to die in Adam, whether it's instant or if you've been in the grave for thousands of years.
Verse 23: "But each in his own order…" There's an order to the resurrection!
How do we know that? Because Revelation says of the saints, this is the first resurrection who live and reign with Christ a thousand years! The "rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years were completed."
- How are they going to come back to life? Through Christ!
- Will it be to eternal life?
OR
- Another life in the flesh? Because they never had an opportunity for salvation!
Let's see where John writes of what Jesus said about this very thing, about raising the dead. It says, 'in Christ.'
John 5:25: "Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God… [He raised some people during His ministry] …and those who hear shall live. For even as the Father has life in Himself, so also has He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and has also given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of man. Do not wonder at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voiceand shall come forth: those who have practiced good unto a resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil unto a resurrection of judgment" (v 25-29). We will see that there are two resurrections to life:
- the resurrection to eternal life
- a resurrection to a second physical life
Why would God do that? Because those are all of those who have not committed the unpardonable sin; they will be raised from the dead so they can have an opportunity for salvation! We will see that! That is hidden in the Scriptures of God!
We know that in Rom. 11 Paul says that 'all Israel shall be saved.' We also know that what happens to Israel happens to the rest of mankind as well. Let's see that; let's see what Jesus Himself said.
Matthew 12:31: "Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men."
Why? Because that is rejecting God the Father personally, because the Holy Spirit comes from God the Father!
Verse 32: "And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age…"
There are those people in this age right now who can and will commit the unpardonable sin.
"…nor in the coming age" (v 32)—the coming one, because there's another age coming! Didn't we read that after the thousand years have been completed that the 'rest of the dead live again'?
This tells you how much God knows. Remember that everything that we say or do and all that we have done in our lives, or are doing—whether converted or not—is written on the spirit of man, which is connected to our mind—everything! That's why you remember the past. But it's written there in such a way that… notice what Jesus says:
Verse 36: "But I say to you, for every idle word that men may speak, they shall be held accountable in the Day of Judgment."
That Day of Judgment is the resurrected to a second physical life to receive an opportunity for salvation. OR the resurrection to cast into the Lake of Fire!
Verse 37: "For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."
That's quite a thing! How is that going to happen? They said, 'We want a sign, Master!' He said,
Verse 39: "…but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (vs 39-40).
What happened after three days and three nights? He was resurrected!
Verse 41: "The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment… [resurrected] …with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here." Amazing!
Remember will be raised up with this generation. What does that confirm? All the rest of the dead live after the thousand years is completed!
(break@35:42)
Let's continue with the Last Great Day, the greatest day in the whole Bible up to the end of the thousand years! Then we have the resurrected of the all the rest of the dead! They're divided into two categories:
- those who have not committed the unpardonable sin, but were never called
- those who have committed the unpardonable sin and they shall be condemned because there is no forgiveness
There is forgiveness for sin in the second resurrection that was done in their first life. But that's for those who did not commit the unpardonable sin. Notice what Jesus continues to explain:
Matthew 12:42: "The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation… [resurrected] …and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here."
Tie that all together. Does this not show that those who are in this resurrection will be flesh? We'll see it verified in Ezek. 37. Let's go back there and read it. Let's see how important that this is. This tells us something very important, and one of the most important chapters in the whole Bible. The question is always raised:
What is God going to do about all those people who die in accidents, in war, that drown, in hurricanes, floods, tornados, landslides, plane crashes, whatever. Those killed in war, executed, beheaded, children who have been thrown in the air and swords cut their bodies in half. Doesn't God care for them? Isn't that what people ask? Yes, indeed!
Remember that the whole house of Israel includes all 12 tribes. What happened to them because of their sins? They were taken off into captivity! And of course, they were cutoff from God! They lived their lives and died. Those were not sins that are unpardonable. We will see in Ezek. 37[transcriber's correction] that when they're brought back to life—a second life in the flesh—that they will be repentant! God will give them an opportunity for salvation!
I imagine that one of the unanswered questions that Ezekiel probably wondered about the rest of his life was:
Lord, what's the meaning of chapter 37? You gave it to me, I preached it and could understanding something about it, but what does it really mean?
He will know when the second resurrection occurs. We know that it's the second resurrection, because those who are Christ's are in the first resurrection, and because it says 'the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are finished.' So, that is a resurrection. If you're in the grave and brought out of the grave, that is a resurrection.
Ezekiel 37:1: "The hand of the LORD was on me, and brought me by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of a valley, and it was full of bones." I can't imagine what was in his mind! Bones everywhere!
Verse 2: "And He made me walk among them all around…." Walk around and take a look at them, and you see all of these dead people! These skeletons; all the bones of people.
"…And behold, very many were in the open valley. And lo, they were very dry" (v 2)—showing that they've been dead for a long, long time!
Verse 3: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' And I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know.'" Ezekiel couldn't answer that question!
Verse 4: "Again He said to me… [He made Ezekiel do this in vision]: …'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD.'"
How can dry bones hear the Word of the Lord? Because God made them and God is going to raise them!
Verse 5: "Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live….[that's going to happen after what comes is finished] …And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you… [not spirit] …and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live. And you shall know that I am the LORD'" (vs 5-6).
What does it mean to know the Lord? You're converted! So, this is an opportunity of conversion for all of those who have been cutoff and never had that opportunity.
- what a great secret in the Bible
- what a tremendous thing
Verse 7: "So, I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a noise. And behold, a shaking! And the bones came together, a bone to its bone. And as I watched, behold the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above. But there was no breath in them" (vs 7-8). Here they are, all restored all around!
Verse 9: "And He said to me, 'Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live'"'"—a second physical life!
What did we read in Matt. 12? That they shall rise with the men of Nineveh and with the Queen of Sheba!
Verse 10: "So, I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. And He said to me, 'Son of man… [God identifies them]: …these bones are the whole house of Israel….'" (vs 10-11).
That means all of Israel down through all time that never had an opportunity for salvation. That's going to be a lot! Add to that all the nations, all the Gentiles. They will be raised, also. We will see that when we get back to Rev. 20. This is going to be gargantuan! The greatest thing to hit the face of the earth since it's creation! Think about that, because this will be billions and billions of people. That's why in the last generation of the thousand-year period, we're going to be building houses, making clothes, preparing for the resurrection! All of these people are going to come and they're going to need housing, clothing, food, all of that. Think about what a tremendous celebration this will be!
The whole house of Israel was cutoff because of their own blindness and because of the blindness of Satan the devil.
"…Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried and our hope is lost; we ourselves are completely cut off'" (v 11). That's the first thing they're going to say! Why is this?
Verse 12: "Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, O My people, I will open your [#1]graves…"'"—more proof that they died; if you're in the grave you died. If you died you lived once.
"…and cause you to come up out of your [#2]graves… [put breath in them so they will live] …and will bring you into the land of Israel."
Then something is going to happen, because God is going to grant them repentance! And repentance to all of the nations.
Verse 13: "And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your [#3]graves, O My people, and have brought you up out of your [#4]graves. And I shall put My Spirit in you…" (vs 13-14)—conversion!
This will be the greatest time of conversion and people entering into the Kingdom of God that has ever been up to this point. That's why this the Last Great Day! This is why this is the great harvest of God!
"'…and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. And you shall know that I the LORD have spoken it and have done it,' says the LORD" (v 14).
That's quite a thing! Now, when He puts them in the land, what's going to happen? The same thing is going that happened to the children of Israel and all the people during the Millennium! They will be raised back to life, and everyone will be given 100 years to live. We also have to think about this:
There are going to be mostly children, infants, young people. All those killed in wars; they're all young and lose their lives. What a terrible thing war has been. It's the most costly and deadly thing upon the face of the earth. It consumes 50% of all the productivity of all mankind down through history to wage war! And they will be put into their own land!
At this time, because there has to be a time of no more new life coming into the world. So, during the 100-year period there will be no new babies born. However, there will be plenty of babies that everybody can take care of. God will work out that's going to be done, and we will supervise how that will be carried out. They will be placed in their own land.
Isaiah 65:20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days…"
Those who died at a few days will be resurrected at what they were when they died. I believe that every baby that has been aborted—because they received the spirit of man at conception—and the only difference between newly conceived life in the womb and those of us who were fully grown, is time and space to grow.
So, God can raise them and give them a new body. Then there will be those to take care of them. They'll have 100 years to live. What a magnificent thing this is going to be!
"…nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old; but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20).
Same thing! They're going to have choose how to live. Those who sin, those who won't repent—given the opportunity to—will have committed the unpardonable sin and they will die the second death in the Lake of Fire.
But, it's going to be the greatest time of building, as well.
Verse 21: "And they will build houses and live in them; and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build, and another live in them; they will not plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are so will be the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for calamity…." (vs 21-23)—they will have children already given to them!
That's going to be quite a thing! So, let's see how this looks in Rev. 20. The whole earth has to be prepared for this. This is why that during this 100-year period, Satan will not be there. All of these people will have lived one life under Satan the devil. Don't you think that's enough? Why would you want to subject them to another life under Satan the devil when you are resurrecting them to a second physical life for an opportunity for salvation?
It won't be necessary! They will repent; they will have learned their lesson. They're going to be ready!
- God will open their mind?
- God will open their heart?
It's going to be greatest time of conversion and the greatest work of God in bringing people into the Kingdom of God.
That's going require all of us and all of those who come into the Kingdom of God during the Millennium. So, when the dead live again:
Revelation 20:11: "Then I saw a great white Throne…"
That's why this day is also called The Great White Throne Judgment! Now they're going to be judged on the works that they do in this second physical life. The works that they did in their first physical life did not bring about a resurrection unto eternal life, but unto a second physical life.
"…and the One Who was sitting on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and no place was found for them" (v 20).
In other words, there were so many there was no place left. How many people? We know that it has to be billions and billions! Is it going to be trillions? We don't know!
Verse 12: "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God…"
Verse 5: "But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed…."
Verse 12: "And I saw the dead… [after the thousand years was completed] …small and great, standing before God and the books were opened…"
They're going to have their names there; we're going to know who they are. Some of them never had name given to them. They'll receive one. Just think of the joy that it's going be to help all of these terrible things that have always happened to infants and babies through war, disaster, disease, sickness and abortion. To be raised and have love, comfort and women who will be able to nurse them and nurture them. Men, fathers for them to be adopted to bring them up in the love of God. What a time that is going to be.
So, the next time you watch on the American History Channel about all the devastation of war, all of the evil that has taken place on people:
- the killing
- the beheading
- the slaughter
All of this will be erased!
"…and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life…." (v 2).
So, they had to have a book opened that tells them all about the Laws of God, and that they have new name, that they have an opportunity for salvation, and then the Book of Life was opened.
Just because they're here in this second resurrection, that qualifies them for an opportunity, so when they repent and want to do God's will, love God and give themselves over to God and are converted, then they're names are written in the Book of Life. They have to live a life just like we had to live a life in love, faith and obedience to overcome.
"…And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works" (v 12).
Since they've been resurrected to a second physical life, now their works can be judged unto eternal life or not. You've got to understand that the majority of these people will be converted. Once that is completed and they enter into the Kingdom of God, there's one more task that has to be done!
Remember that at the beginning of the Millennium Satan was put away and sent to the 'blackest darkness forever'! Whoever is there who doesn't want salvation, then what will take place is the second part of the second resurrection. All of the incorrigible wicked will be raised from the dead to receive the final sentence of God and be cast into the Lake of Fire!
Verse 13: "And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged individually, according to their works. And death and the grave…" (vs 13-14).
The KJV says 'hell'! IF the Lake of Fire is hell how are you going to cast hell into the lake of Fire? You can ask anybody who believes in the KJV sometime.
"…were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death" (v 14). In order to die twice, you must live twice!. That's simple!
Verse 15: "And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire."
These are all fleshly individuals, and when they're cast into the Lake of Fire, they're burned up and that is the end of them! They perish!
2-Peter shows that God is then going to envelop the whole earth with the Lake of Fire and burn up everything on the earth to prepare for the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Satan is gone, no more sin! The great plan of God continues into all eternity. Let's get a glimpse of this in Rev. 21 & 22. Let's see how wonderful this is going to be. Let's see how wonderful this is going to be, and how marvelous it is going to be that there will be:
- the nations that are saved
- New Jerusalem
- all the brethren
- all of those who are converted
- all of the patriarchs
- all of the apostles
- all of us wherever we will be in that New Jerusalem
Here is shows that the desire of all people to not have anymore of the terrible things of life. It will be accomplished.
Revelation 21:1: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea."
When that fire envelops the whole world it's going to evaporate the seas. Because as spirit beings we won't need to have the temperature modulated in a particular way that all the oceans do for the earth today.
Verse 2: "And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven say, 'Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men… [that is men and women made perfect] …and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be anymore death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away'" (vs 2-4). That's quite a thing! Think about that! God is going to eliminate all those evils!
Verse 5: "And He Who sits on the Throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' Then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'"
It's going to happen! God wants it written down so we know! Think about that! That we know the greatest secret of God, and how He's going to carry it out!
Verse 6: "And He said to me, 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the Water of Life." We will have that given to us constantly!
Just think about what it's going to be like to be a spirit being!
Verse 7: "The one who overcomes shall inherit all things…" That's why, brethren:
- never give up
- never give in
- never let down
- always overcome
God will give you the strength to overcome and make it!
- God wants you there
- God needs you there
- that's why you're called
- that's why we're here
"…and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death" (vs 7-8).
In other words, no evil is going be allowed to be there! That's going to be something! This is God's great plan for the whole world. We will be the firstfruits forever! How is that going to be in the Kingdom of God? We'll have to get there to find out!
Verse 9: "And one of the seven angels that had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, 'Come here, and I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife.'"
It's not showing the wife particularly, but showing where the wife will live. That's New Jerusalem! That's where we will live!
Verse 10: "And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. And her radiance was like a most precious stone, as crystal-clear as jasper stone. And the city also had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and inscribed on the gates were the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (vs 10-12).
Verse 13: "On the east were three gates; on the north were three gates; on the south were three gates; on the west were three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and written on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (vs 13-14).
How important is that? The 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Christ! That's going to be amazing!
Verse 15: "And the one who was speaking with me had a golden measuring rod, so that he might measure the city, and its gates and its wall. And the city lies foursquare, for its length is as long as its breadth. And he measured the city with the rod, twelve thousand furlongs… [1500 miles] …the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits… [a high wall] …the angel's measure was according to a man's" (vs 15-17)—210 feet!
Verse 18: "And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass."
Think about this: Gold that is so fine and shining and magnificent that it's like glass!
Verse 19: "And the foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every precious stone: the first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprasus; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst" (vs 19-20).
Verse 21: "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates respectively was a single pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as transparent as glass."
We have no idea of the spiritual substance of things that we call gold, silver and precious stone! What is it going to be like as spirit?
Verse 22: "And I saw no temple in it; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it."
God right there! We're living in the city where God lives! What a magnificent thing that is!
Verse 23: "And the city has no need of the sun, or of the moon…" Doesn't say they won't be there, but it doesn't need it!
"…that they should shine in it; because the glory of God enlightens it, and the Light of it is the Lamb. And the nations that are saved shall walk in its Light…" (vs 23-24).
Now, the nations are all of those who are saved during the Millennium and during the Great White Throne Judgment. They will live on the earth, not in the city. They will bring their honor and glory to the city. Let's see that.
"…and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it. And its gates shall never be shut by day; for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. And nothing that defiles shall ever enter into it… [no way, because it isn't there and it isn't going to be there] …nor shall anyone who practices an abomination or devises a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (vs 24-27).
That's going to be an amazing time! Brethren, think about it! Now let's look at the Throne of God, because we're going to be brought before God—God the Father Himself and Jesus Christ Himself—and we will see Them. We will say:
Our Father, 'I love you!' And He will say, 'I love you.'
Think about what that's going to be and mean!
Revelation 22:1: "Then he showed me a pure river of the Water of Life, clear as crystal… [always learning, always living] …flowing out from the Throne of God and of the Lamb. And in the middle of the street, and on this side and that side of the river, was the Tree of Life… [right there] …producing twelve manner of fruits, each month…" (vs 1-2).
If there are months, you have to have a moon. But that's for time, not for light.
"…yielding its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing… [continuous therapy or keeping them spiritually the way that they should be] …of the nations" (v 2).
How that's going to work, we don't know; but God knows!
Verse 3: "And there shall be no more curse; and the Throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him, and they shall see His face; and His name is in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; for they have no need of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God enlightens them; and they shall reign into the ages of eternity" (vs 3-5).
Now, think about that! Think of the great beautiful picture of the universe and all that is out there. God says that 'this is My domain. You, every one of you, will help Me rule it and sustain it and glorify it.' Think about what that's going to be!
Verse 6: "And he (the angel to John) said to me, 'These words are faithful and true… [they're going to happen; when God verifies it, it is so, as good as done] …and the Lord God of the Holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things that must shortly come to pass.'"
Verse 7—Christ says: "Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
That's why it's so important that we have the Truth of God, the Truth of God, the Truth of God! Nothing but the Truth of God!
- we don't need the teachings of men
- we don't need the ideas of men
- we need the Truth of God
- we need His ideas
- we need His ways
Verse 8: "Now I, John, was the one who saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who was showing me these things. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do this! For I am a fellow servant of yours, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God'" (vs 8-9).
What kind of worship and love toward God are we going to have as spirit beings? Absolutely unfathomable! It says, 'The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard the things that God has prepared for those who love Him!'
- Do we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being?
- Do we love Jesus Christ?
- Do we love the Word of God?
- Do we love what God is doing?
Yes, and all that God has planning for us! Yes, indeed!
Verse 10: "And he said to me, 'Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book because the time is near.' Let the one who is unrighteous be unrighteous still; and let the one who is filthy be filthy still; and let the one who is righteous be righteous still; and let the one who is Holy be Holy still" (vs 10-11).
Verse 12: "And behold, I am coming quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according as his work shall be…. [Jesus affirms it] …I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who keep His commandments…" (vs 12-14).
That's why the commandments are so important. They keep us in contact with God, and:
- we receive God's blessing
- we receive His Truth
- we receive His love
- we receive His Spirit
"…that they may have the right to eat of the Tree of Life, and may enter by the gates into the city…. [what a right that's going to be] …But excluded… [final warning; no one is going to get there who goes against the will of God]: …are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and devises a lie…. [no more deception] …I, Jesus, sent My angel to testify these things to you in the churches…." (vs 14-16).
We are to know these things and understand them. We are to be inspired and uplifted by them. So that we can go forth and do what we need to do to preach the Gospel, to serve the people whom God calls.
"'…I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star.' And the Spirit [Christ] and the Bride say, 'Come.'…." (vs 16-17).
Let's hope we have more time, brethren, to say, 'Come! Come to God and repent! Yield to Him!'
"…And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who thirsts come; and let the one who desires partake of the water of life freely" (v 17).
What a magnificent thing! See what a great thing this is! Now you see why sin is so bad! It's not going to have any part in what God is doing!
Verse 18: "For I jointly testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book, that if anyone adds to these things… [the traditions of men and so forth] …God shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy…" (vs 18-19).
Men who are supposed to be translators have taken away 35,000 words!
"…God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and from the Holy City, and from the things that are written in this book" (v 19).
That's amazing, brethren, what a final finish to the Bible, the very words of God!
Verse 20: "He Who testifies these things says, 'Surely, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus…. [yes, come] …The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen" (vs 21-22).
Brethren, what a fantastic Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day this has been!
- may we love God
- may w love each other
- serve the brethren
- do what is right
- overcome the world
- overcome Satan the devil
And stand before God to receive these blessings that He has promised to give us!
Scriptural References:
- Leviticus 23:34-36, 39
- Proverbs 25:2
- Isaiah 45:15
- Matthew 13:11-13
- John 12:37-40
- 2 Corinthians 4:1-4
- 2 Peter 3:9
- 1 Timothy 2:4
- Revelation 20:4-5
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
- John 5:25-29
- Matthew 12:31-32, 36-42
- Ezekiel 37:1-14
- Isaiah 65:20-23
- Revelation 20:11-12, 5, 12-15
- Revelation 21: 1-27
- Revelation 22:1-22
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Numbers 29
- Romans 11
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/25/21
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