The Greatest Harvest of God

What God says, He WILL do!

(The Last Great Day)

Fred R. Coulter—October 17, 2022

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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to The Last Great Day! What a great day this will be in it's fulfillment! The greatest thing that God is going to do. Yet, it is the least spoken of, of all the Holy Days of God. It's only mentioned twice.

It ties in with the Feast of Tabernacles, because it follows immediately after the 7th day of 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 did that!

It was a good Feast, and I hope every one of you had a great Feast! It's really something to know and understand that we will be living with God. We will see later in this Last Great Day that that will be in New Jerusalem! Think about that!

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. On the eighth day shall be a Holy convocation to you…." (vs 35-36)—there it is right there! One sentence!

"…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).

Then God gives a summary of all the Feasts! Isn't it something that what the world rejects, God uses those very things to carry out His plan:

• Sabbath
• Passover
• Unleavened Bread
• Pentecost
• Trumpets
• Atonement
• Tabernacles
• The Last Great Day

The world looks at these and says that you don't have to do them, those are 'ritual days.' That's not a very good excuse to get rid of them, because there are rituals every day the temple!

Verse 38: "Besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD. 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" (vs 38-39).

Then it tells what they were to do in building their temporary dwellings. As we know today, everything on earth is temporary!

What we will do since it is the Last Great Day, we'll take up an offering. We will use this:

• to serve the people of God
• to preach the Gospel
• to get books and booklets written and produced

Everything to serve God!In the Christian Biblical Church of God we do not take things to serve ourselves! But to serve the brethren and whomever will listen! Our two websites:

• truthofGod.org—we've been revamping it and I don't know if it's ready yet, because we want to make it so it's easier to understand, easier to use.

likewise with

• churchathome.org, which is really a great and wonderful place not only for new people, but for every one of us, because we cover topics there that are strictly Biblical!

So, everything that we do is focused on that and focused on the Kingdom of God and focused on preparing for the return of Christ!

(pause for the offering)

Let's begin and see why The Last Great Day is the great day that God is going to bring in the greatest harvest of all! Let's see what Jesus said. John 7 is where Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles. Let's read what He said, and this is right at the end of Day 7 and the beginning of Day 8:

John 7:37: "Now, in the last day, the great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and called out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.'"

Stop and think about that statement! If anyone—no qualification of time—and is thirsty "…let him come to Me and drink." Of course, this is spiritual, but think about that! From Adam and Eve all the way down through to the beginning of the Millennium, very few are the 'firstfruits' in the first resurrection.

The harvest during the Millennium is going to be spectacular! But what about everybody else? It could be said that:

God is a respecter of persons because all those other people in the in the past He's just wiping away. They're dead and gone and their memory has disappeared and God cares nothing about them. Actually down through history people can look at history and see all the wars and killings and famines.

How about the Flood of Noah and everything down through the history of mankind until the coming of Jesus Christ.

How many people lived and died? Yet, they didn't have this opportunity in v 37. Reading on:

Verse 38: "'The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit…(vs 38-39).

What about the Holy Spirit? It was not given to any except a few of the prophets, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs and a few of the kings! That's it until Christ came! Then when Christ came, on the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Now then, God did not call the world! Even from the time that the Church started, the vast majority of people have lived and died without the true knowledge of God. During that time there was some knowledge of God, but Satan moved right in and spread around false Christianity and the true Church was taken to the mountains of Alps and was preserved for 1,260 years until it was time to get the Bible printed!

How about all those people, what about their lives? It says, 'If anyone…'; but they never had an opportunity. So, The Last Great Day is the day that answers that! It's going to be quite a thing, indeed!

Let's see what Jesus even told the disciples in Mark 4, and this is in parallel with Matt. 13. Mark 4:10 is quite a statement. The Protestants ought to read this, because they think that Jesus is trying to save as many as He can now, and as the so-called Pastor Jeffress of the Dallas church says, 'If you're not in the Baptist Church you're going to die in hell! Then burn forever!' Really??? Let's see what Jesus said:

Mark 4:10: "Now, when He was alone, those who were around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. And He said to them, 'To you it has been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God… [the plan of God] …but to those who are without, all things are done in parables'" (vs 10-11)—spoken in a language they can hear, but not understand!

Verse 12: "So that in seeing they may see, and not perceive and in hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest they should be converted…"

What does that tell you abut Jesus trying to convert all the people that He can now? No! There are the firstfruits, the few! The few are those who love God and keep His commandments, have repented and received the Holy Spirit!

To the rest it has not been given. What is God going to do with the rest of the world? That's why The Last Great Day! We will see that it's going to be fantastic, indeed!

"…and not understand; lest they should be converted and their sins should be forgiven them" (v 12).

That's quite a statement! Let's see how this works. Let's understand that throughout the Bible God has given a bit of understanding here, there and other places about His plan.

The structure on which all the Scriptures pertaining to the plan of God are fitted is the structure of the Passover and the Holy Days. Some people would say:

• Does God have a purpose?
• What do you think about God having a purpose?
• If He doesn't want to save them, what's He going to do?
• Were their lives just in vain?

Isa. 14—here's what God says, and the only way we're going to know it is by:

• repentance
• baptism
• receiving the Holy Spirit
• loving God
• keeping His commandments
• knowing His Word

Otherwise, people would never know!

Isaiah 14:24: "The LORD of hosts has sworn… [the Word of God is true and whatever He says is true and will take place] …saying, 'Surely as I have thought…'"

• How does God think? We know that He created Adam and Eve and from there comes all of mankind!
• What was God thinking of?
• What was His plan?
• Why did He start that?
• Why did Lucifer rebel when the angels found out that they would beneath the human beings that God was creating in His own image?

"…'Surely as I have thought so it shall come to pass…'" (24)—it's going to take place! John 7 says that 'anyone who believes in Me can be converted and receive the Holy Spirit.'

• What if they died before Christ ever came? That's the majority of all people, 4,000 years!

"…and as I have purposed, so it shall stand… [then He gives the example of the Assyrians]: …that I will break Assyria in My land, and upon My mountains, and trample him under foot…." (vs 24-25).

• Did He do that in the days of Hezekiah? What a fantastic thing he did!

The armies of the Assyrians were coming to attack Judea and take Jerusalem and take all of the riches and everything, and carry the people off into captivity. But Hezekiah went before God and prayed deeply, and the answer was from God: 'Will take care of it!' What did He do that night? You talk about the power of God!

• What He says He will do!
• What He thinks and proposes, it will come to pass?

So, He says here, "…I will break Assyria in My land…"—and He did!

That night, after Hezekiah's prayer, the army of the 120,000 all died in their sleep! When the king and generals woke up—because God didn't kill them, because He wanted them to see His judgment against them—it was quiet! 'How come we can't hear anything?' So, they pulled back and opened the tent looked out. There they see all the soldiers dead!

That's a good example of what God says that He will do, it will take place!

"…'Surely as I have thought… [or proposed] …so it shall come to pass…'" (24)—or stand!

Jer. 51 tells us that God has a purpose. But He has to reveal it and open our mind to it, because it's hidden in the Word of God.

Jeremiah 51:29: "And the land shall tremble and writhe. For every purpose of the LORD…" Think about that!

• Is anybody going to go against the purpose of God?
• Is anybody going to tell God what to do?

"…shall be done against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant" (v 29).

That did not happen for hundreds of years. It happened with the Medes, but they didn't destroy Babylon. It went on and on and finally it was destroyed.

God's purpose is what He's going to carry out and we are here for the very purpose of God. Let's look at the purpose that God has for us! We are part of this now, with God's Spirit and knowing the Truth; with understanding the Holy Days and the Sabbath, all of those things.

Let's also understand that God is directly—through Christ, through His Spirit—intervening in our lives:

• to bless us
• to lead us
• to guide us

and through His Word

• to teach us
• to give us understanding
• to prepare us for the first resurrection

But the first resurrection is only in preparation for the Millennium, and the Millennium is only in preparation for The Last Great Day!

It's kind of like the universe. You look at the Earth and you think that's something. Then you look out and see all the stars. Then you look at the Hubble Telescope pictures and see all of that out there. Then along comes the James Webb Telescope and it goes out 13-billion light years and there is still stars and galaxies! Here we are, little ole us!

Eph. 1—I want you to get the flow of what Paul is writing and understand how God is working in your life and the life of all of those who have His Spirit. How important it is that we love God and keep His commandments! Staying close to Him through prayer and study, and do the things that are pleasing to Him. It is a great and wonderful purpose that He has called us to, to be in the first resurrection! But that has to take place before the Millennium, and the Millennium has to take place before the Last Great Day. As we will see, The Last Great Day will be the greatest day!

Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ." That will be all fulfilled at the first resurrection!

Verse 4: "According as He has personally chosen us for Himself…"

God determined that there would be the Church, Christ would be the sacrifice and that He would choose different ones. All of this was determined:

"…before the foundation…" (v 4).

Then the Book of Life was made and our names will be written in the Book of Life. Ours are there now awaiting the resurrection!

"…before the foundation of the world in order that we might be…" (v 4).

Listen! This is what God wants for us, and for everyone else in whatever category that they're going to be in:

"…that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love; having predestinated us…" (vs 4-5)—in His plan that He conceived before the foundation of time!

"…for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will" (v 5).

Remember what we just read. If He said it, it stands! If He said it, He will do it!

Verse 6: "To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son."

What does that mean? That means that the whole thing about the grace of God is that He has given us direct contact with Himthrough prayer and study, with His Spirit in us! That's something, and the world doesn't know that!

Verse 7: "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace."

Our sins are forgiven! But as Jesus said, 'He spoke to them in parables lest they would be converted and their sins forgiven.' Their sins are not forgiven! If God wants as many people as possible to enter into the Kingdom of God, He's got to do something fantastic to make it happen, and He's going to! That is contained in the meaning of this day!

Verse 8: "Which He has made to abound toward us in all wisdom and intelligence; having made known to us the mystery of His own will…" (vs 8-9). Think about that!

The next time that you're in a terrible trial—and we are going to see difficult and terrible times—never forget that:

"…according to His good pleasure… [and His own will we have a relationship with Him] …which He purposed in Himself" (v 9). Think about that!

That's why the preaching of the Gospel is the good news!

Verse 10: "That in the Divine plan for the fulfilling of the times… [through the Holy Days] …He might bring all things together in Christ, both the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth."

He's going to bring it together and bring peace, conversion and all these things. It's going to be marvelous!

Verse 11: "Yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose… [there it is twice] …Who is working out all things according to the counsel of His own will; that we might be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in the Christ" (vs 11-12).

That's why we have the Spirit of God! The world doesn't have it, and cannot understand it. The world doesn't know what to do. They've got the Bible and they can read it, but they don't know how to understand it, because they don't know that it's 'here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept' and to put it together!

So, there's no way that they can understand! Look at the fake Christianity that's in the world. Look at the other religions that are in the world. Look at the situation with Satan the devil and his demons and what they have produced, and how the nations have been. Isa. 29 shows us:

Isaiah 29:9: "Be stunned and amazed!…"

Everything that's going on right now is only going to intensify and get worse. We've got to be ready! We have to have some things so we can survive for a while! The time is going to come that they're going to be looking for our heads!

"…Blind your eyes and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink, for the LORD has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes; He has covered the prophets and your rulers, and the seers" (vs 9-10)—and they don't know anything!

You watch what some of these Protestants tell you. They're just another version of the Catholic Church. You wait and see that when the pope comes on the scene to bring miracles and the beast is on the scene the Protestants are going to flock to them! It will look like that there's going to be peace. All of the revivals that they're working for now look like they will be fulfilled when that takes place. But that will be a complete failure!

Verse 11: "And the vision of all has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed… [that's what they tell you] …which they give to one who is learned saying, 'Please read this,' and he says, 'I cannot, for it is sealed.'"

You read some of these things, especially in the Old Testament, you can't make sense out of it unless you know the Sabbath and Holy Days!

Verse 12: "And the book is delivered to him who is not learned, saying, 'Please read this,' and he says, 'I am not learned.'"

Verse 13: "And the LORD said, 'Because this people draws near Me with their mouth… [Isn't that what the Protestants do, and yes, even the Catholics?] …and with their lips honor Me, but their worship of Me is made up of the traditions of men learned by rote, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandments of men.'" That's what we have today!

Verse 14: "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do again a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise ones shall perish, and the wisdom of their intelligent ones shall vanish."

What is that going to be? The Last Great Day! The greatest, greatest thing possible! Let's see that just like in Lev. 23, that The Last Great Day is mentioned twice. Here in Rev. 20 is a phrase, just a phrase that tells the rest of the story. Without this one verse, there is no way that you can understand the plan of God. There is no way that you can understand The Last Great Day.

Revelation 20::4 talks about the first resurrection when Jesus returns: "…and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."

What's going to happen when the thousand years are finished? That's the end of the Feast of Tabernacles! That's why there's the Last Great Day, because it comes after that.

Verse 5: "But the rest of the dead…"Who are all the rest of the dead?

Everybody who was not called in their physical lifetime from creation clear on down through the beginning of the Millennium!

"…did not live again…" (v 5). This tells us that everyone who has lived and died will live again!

"…until the thousand years were completed…." (v 5).

So, the first resurrection comes first! All the way through the Millennium there will be no resurrection. You're either going to enter into the Kingdom of God or you're going to go to Gog and Magog and die in your sins and be buried. Those three sentences:

• "and the 8th day shall be a Holy convocation"—one verse
• "in the 8th day shall be a Holy convocation"—another verse
• "the rest of the dead"—the third indication of it

Only those who are Christ's will be raised at His coming!

What about all the rest of the dead, with all the people? We will see an astounding thing, because there are some Scriptures that show us what's going to happen!

(break@36:20)

Let's see how things come together and the great meaning of The Last Great Day. There are two major meanings, and we'll see what they are!

After the thousand years, and after the incorrigible who were in Gog and Magog come down after Satan and the demons are released, make war and are defeated, Satan and the demons are cast into the Lake of Fire, and judged! Their final judgment will be the blackest darkness forever and ever!

After that, that clears the way for the rest of the dead to be raised! This includes everybody who has not committed the unpardonable sin! This will include those:

• who have been aborted
• who die in war
  • the young and old
  • the soldiers

Everyone to have an opportunity for salvation that they didn't have in their first life! And the most important thing about that is that Satan won't be there! Think about this for a minute:

• Isn't it enough to live one physical life in the realm of Satan? Yes!

Satan is removed, and:

• How many people have said that they wish there wouldn't be a Satan?

The day is coming when there won't be a Satan! Now it will get down to the choices that everyone will make:

Revelation 20:11: "Then I saw a great white Throne 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."

That means so many! How many billion and billions will that be? Remember the last part of the Millennium is going to be devoted to preparing for this second resurrection. There will be:

• plenty of places
• plenty of food
• plenty of clothing

Everything necessary!

Verse 12: "And I saw the dead…"

Who are they? The rest of the dead of v 5 who were not in the first resurrection when Jesus returned!!

"…small and great, standing before God; and the books were opened…" (v 12)—the books of God's Word!

How much more of it will be at this time than we have now, we do not know! But we're also going to have the whole history of the thousand years! These who are resurrected in the second resurrection will have the information that they had in their lives plus the Word of God and whatever else God will add to it during the Millennium! They will have everything in great abundance!

"…and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life….: (v 12)—for those raised in the second resurrection! No names are written in that for eternal life. Their names are written for the second resurrection!

"…And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works" (v 12).

They're going to have a whole new set of works. They will have to repent of their sins. Remember the verse that everybody knows"

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life."

Now that will be opened for these people, as well! So, when you read John 3:16 again, remember that it includes everybody that is willing to repent!

Revelation 20:13: "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."

Let's see that Jesus prophesied of this in John 5. We know in Heb. 12 that it tells 'the spirits of just men made perfect.' And they're at the altar of God! That's all of those who are in the first resurrection who have died and their spirit has returned to God and is there.

Everyone who was not in the first resurrection, but who lived and died they will be raised back to a physical life.

I want you to think about this great second resurrection and all the multitudes that there will be who will be saved at that time!

John 5:24: "Truly, truly I say to you, the one who hears My Word, and believes Him Who sent Me… [they never had a chance to hear it; now they will hear it] …has everlasting life and does not come into judgment; for he has passed from death into life"—those in the first resurrection!

Verse 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; 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 voice… [the first resurrection is obvious] …and shall come forth: those who have practiced good unto a resurrection of life, and those who have practiced evil unto a resurrection of judgment" (vs 25-29).

We have the first resurrection in v 24, so v 29 has to be the second resurrection after the thousand years for those who did well in their lives and did not commit the unpardonable sin. They will be raised.

Then those, at the end of the 100-year period, will be raised and cast into the Lake of Fire to a resurrection of judgment.

I want to mention what we covered yesterday (Day 7) in Isa. 65 about an infant will live out 100 years and the sinner will be accursed at 100-years. The same thing will apply at the Great White Throne Judgment. Everyone will have 100-years.

Let's see what's going to happen. We will see that as it happens to Israel, so will it happen to all of the people of the world.

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." If there are bones, that means that they left once and died!

Verse 2: "And He made me walk among them all around. And behold, very many were in the open valley. And lo, they were very dry." 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.'"

If you see a whole pile of bones out there and God says, 'Can they live?' Well, the answer is that God knows!

Verse 4: "Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you… [physical life] …and you shall live. And I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you… [physical life] …and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live…. [physical life] …And you shall know that I am the LORD'" (vs 4-6).

They didn't know the Lord before; as Jesus said, they were cut off!

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).

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.'"

The rest of the dead live not again till the thousand years were finished! Here it is!

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."

The Great White Throne and those who were raised, there was no place found for them. Right here it says the same thing. This identifies who they are:

Verse 11: "And He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel…."

Think about that going all the way back. These were the ones who were blinded and not able to be converted during the time of Jesus' ministry on the earth. But now they're raised for an opportunity for salvation.

"…Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried and our hope is lost; we ourselves are completely cut off.' Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, and will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD when I have opened your graves, O My people, and have brought you up out of your graves. And I shall put My Spirit in you… [conversion] …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'" (vs 11-14). They have that 100-years!

Let's see that it also applies to the Gentile nations, as well. God is going to do a great work! That's why it's called The Last Great Day! It's going to be greatest period of salvation in the history of everything that God has done with mankind. And in preparation for what He has for after that!

Matthew 12:30: "The one who is not with Me is against Me… [that was during His ministry] …and the one who does not gather with Me scatters. 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" (vs 30-31).

Why? Because it comes directly from God the Father and they are rejecting God the Father. Therefore, when that happens it is a deliberate thought out sin to reject God the Father. That can't be forgiven! That's the unpardonable sin! Those who commit that will go into the Lake of Fire! We will see that in just a little bit.

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 nor in the coming age." So there are two coming ages:

• the Millennium
• the 100-year period—the second resurrection

Verse 33: "Either make the tree good and the fruit good…"

They will have an opportunity to do that; to repent and be baptized and receive God's Spirit.

"…or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit. Offspring of vipers, how are you able to speak good things, being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks…. [He continues the judgment] …The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out good things; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure brings out wicked things. But I say to you, for every idle word that men may speak, they shall be held accountable in the Day of Judgment" (vs 33-36).

• Are you going to repent and get rid of it so you may have eternal life?

or

• Are you going into the Lake of Fire?

That's what it's talking about here!

He goes on showing exactly what's going to happen, and a timeframe for it. The scribes and Pharisees wanted a sign, and Jesus said that no sign will be given except:

Verse 40: "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. The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment… [raised in the second resurrection] …with this generation…" (vs 40-41).

It doesn't matter how many years apart that they are, they're all going to be raised at the same time.

"…and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation… [simultaneously; that's the second resurrection] … 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" (vs 41-42).

This shows that the second resurrection is going to happen to all people!

The next phase is going to happen! This is the incorrigible wicked will be cast into the Lake of Fire! We know that from 2-Pet. 3 that Peter says that the heaven and the earth that we're on right now is all going to be consumed in a torrential fire. It will start out as the Lake of Fire to extinguish all of the unrepentant sinners. Those who:

• refuse to repent
• refuse Jesus Christ
• refuse God the Father
• refuse salvation

Revelation 20:14: "And death and the grave were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death…. [which meant that in order to die twice, you must live twice] …And if anyone was not found written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire."

They will all be burned up, because the next phase of God's plan is put into motion. The earth is going to be consumed with this fire and destroy everything that was on it having to do with physical human beings. Then God is going to make a new heaven and new earth. We will see the Holy City Jerusalem.

This is going to be something! Notice how great that this is beginning in the next chapter, and this is what everyone is longing and hoping for; eternal life, to live with God where there love, peace and joy. At that time then God will also begin to show His plan for the rest of the universe. People wonder all that universe out there, what is God going to do with that! It's beautiful, fantastic and awesome! It's awe inspiring! That's going to be the inheritance of Christ and the saints and those who enter into the Kingdom of God.

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."

We won't need any sea, no ocean, because as spirit beings we do not need to have the temperature modulated like we do as human beings.

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… [amazing; men and women made perfect, of course] …and He shall dwell with them… [that's quite a statement] …and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God.'" (vs 2-3).

Notice how great this is going to be, because there's not going to be any more sorrow, pain, suffering and everything that we have in this life now.

Verse 4: "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."

Because the last day, The Last Great Day, took care of everything that needed to be done, to heal all people who were willing to repent. To undo all the sin of war, murder, abortion, sickness and death.

And in that second physical life to these people that they would qualify to enter into the Kingdom of God, which the greatest majority will! They will be part of this, as well. This is something.

Verse 5: "And He Who sits on the Throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'…."

What is that going to be like? We'll have to be there to see it!

"…Then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.'…. [it's going to happen] …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" (vs 5-6). That goes right back to where we started!

Verse 7: The one who overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son."—and daughter (2-Cor. 6)!

Verse 8: "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."

So, He labels that the second death twice! That's a summary of what's coming! After that, John writes:

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.'"

He shows New Jerusalem; that's not the Bride; that's where the Bride 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). So, that goes on forever! Isn't that something?

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. 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; the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal" (vs 13-16). That's approximately 1500 miles! So, it's a magnificent city!

Verse 17: "And he measured its wall, one hundred and forty-four cubits; the angel's measure was according to a man's. And the structure of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like pure glass" (vs 17-18).

Can you imagine gold that you can see though? That's going to be spectacular! Listen, we have to be a spirit being in order to really appreciate and enjoy this. He's made it for us!

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. 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" (vs 19-21).

Verse 22: "And I saw no temple in it… [because God is dwelling there; don't need a temple] …for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it. And the city has no need of the sun, or of the moon… [doesn't say it 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" (vs 22-23).

Verse 24: "And the nations that are saved… [everybody else not in the first resurrection there will be nations, and the people are saved] …shall walk in its Light; and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory and honor into it."

What are we going to be? Kings and priests! There's going to be activity going, tithes and offerings and things coming up to God. I don't know how all of that is going to work, but it's going be something!

Verse 25: "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" (v 25-26).

Here's a warning! It's not going to happen! It's not going to take place!

Verse 27: "And nothing that defiles shall ever enter into it… [because there's nothing that will defile] …nor shall anyone who practices an abomination or devises a lie; but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

This means that this is excluding these people at the beginning of it all. Just think about what that's going to be like. Think about what it is like today; we're living in the grips of Satan's world, and look at all of the evil abominations that he is bringing upon people right here in America! And other people in other nations!

Here's the finale of the whole Bible, Rev. 22. It's interesting in the Hebrew language, it's alphabet has 22 letters. This is wonderful and this will bring us to the conclusion of The Last Great Day!

Revelation 22:1: "Then he [the angel] showed me [John] a pure river of the Water of Life, clear as crystal… [eternal life; how that works we don't know] …flowing out from the Throne of God and of the Lamb…. [two thrones there, and out comes this crystal clear water] …And in the middle of the street, and on this side and that side of the river, was the Tree of Life, producing twelve manner of fruits, each month yielding its fruit; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (vs 1-2—or maintenance or therapy of the nations!

How all of that is going to work, we don't know, but it has to do with the receiving of God's Holy Spirit, undoubtedly!

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."

Notice the next verse, a small, little verse. What is it going to be like?

Verse 4: "And they shall see His face; and His name is in their foreheads."

I thought about that a lot! What is it going to be like for every one of us that we can come to God the Father and look at Him face-to-face, and His name is written in our forehead! We tell the Father how much we love Him and the Father tells us how much He loves us. Christ is right there with Him and tells us the same thing. That's why we will be in New Jerusalem, and what a tremendous, fantastic thing that is going to be:

• to be right there with God
• to see God
• to talk with God

and God talk to us! We are His children and the object of His whole purpose!

Verse 5: "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." That means have rulership forever!

Verse 6: And he said to me, 'These words are faithful and true… [they're going to come to pass; it's going to be done, because God said so] …and the Lord God of the Holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things that must shortly come to pass.'"

Now, here's the epilog of the whole thing, right here, the rest of it:

Verse 7: "Behold, I am coming quickly…. [in our lifetime, that's quickly] …Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."

Not done away, not eliminated. We keep the words of God, we keep the words of the prophecies in this book, not only Revelation but the whole Bible!

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). Oh what a thing that's going to be!

Verse 10: "And he said to me, 'Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book because the time is near.'"

It's a whole lot nearer than when we first believed! It's going to happen!

Verse 11: "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."

• stay faithful
• stay loyal
• stay loving
• stay obedient
• stay serving God
• stay keeping His commandments

Verse 12: "And behold, I am coming quickly… [His timetable is different than ours] …and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega… [He's reminding us, going clear back to the beginning] …the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (vs 12-13).

Then He gives us something else to remember and hold onto, and why it's so important that we love God and keep His commandments.

Verse 14: "Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to eat of the Tree of Life, and may enter by the gates into the city." That's going to be something, brethren!

Now look at this. When we see this and understand this, there is no trial, nothing that can turn us back from God! So, remember this, because when we leave here, we're going to get back home and right in the middle of the world again in our lives. Keep this in mind so you can be faithful!

Verse 15: "But excluded… [this is a warning down through time]: …are dogs, and sorcerers, and fornicators, and murderers, and idolaters, and everyone who loves and devises a lie."

Dogs are not the animals, but people who conduct their lives like dogs.

Verse 16: "I, Jesus, sent My angel to testify these things to you in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright and morning star."

Verse 17: "And the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.'…."

That's what we have to preach. We have to take the Gospel out to the world!

"…And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who thirsts come… [tie in John 7] …and let the one who desires partake of the water of life freely" (v 17).

John adds in his ending right here; v 18: "For I jointly testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book… [not only Revelation, but the whole Bible; tie in Rev. 1] …that if anyone adds to these things, 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, 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" (vs 18-19).

Here is John almost 100-years-old. We don't know how frail he must have been, but getting this prophecy and writing this down was the most important thing in his entire life! All the other apostles have died. He alone gets this vision. He knows that he's signing off, and he knows he's going to die. He doesn't know how far into the future it would go, but here we are today, reading about it.

Verse 20: "He Who testifies these things says, 'Surely, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

That's the completion of the purpose of God!

Scriptural References:

• Leviticus 23:34-36, 38-39

• John 7:37-39
• Mark 4:10-12
• Isaiah 14:24
• Jeremiah 51:29
• Ephesians 1:3-12
• Isaiah 29:9-14
• Revelation 20:4-5, 11-12
• John 3:16
• Revelation 12:13
• John 5:24-29
• Ezekiel 37:1-14
• Matthew 12:30-36, 40-42
• Revelation 20:14
• Revelation 21:1-27
• Revelation 22:1-20

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 13
• Hebrews 12
• Isaiah 65
• 2 Peter 3
• 2 Corinthians 6
• Revelation 1

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 8/14/22
Corrected: 817/22

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