Day Seven—Feast of Tabernacles—2012

Fred R. Coulter—October 7, 2012

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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles! And lo and behold, this is the last day of the Feast. However, because there is a new beginning, there is the eighth day: The Last Great Day! We'll save that for tomorrow.

In observing the Feast of Tabernacles we see how God is going to deal with the world when Christ returns. It's going to be quite a thing. God is going to deal with Israel, God is going to bring them back and He is going to do some very spectacular things with them. He's going to give them a new heart, a heart of flesh. They're going to be taught, and we're the teachers and we'll be there to tell them 'this is the way to walk, go in it.'

That's when God is going to establish the New Covenant with Israel and with Judah. That has never been established, though it's mentioned there in the book of Hebrews, chapter 8; that's for those who came into the Church at the beginning of the Church. But now let's come to Jeremiah 31 and let's see that God is going to again re-establish a covenant with Israel and with the house of Judah, and it's going to start the Millennium.

We'll see what happens during the Millennium. We've seen part of that, we'll review it, and then we'll look at something that will give us understanding so that when we come back to Rev. 20 and begin to go through the Scriptures that tell us about the end of the Millennium and the beginning of the Last Great Day.

Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.'" If the churches in the world understood the difference between the house of Israel and the house of Judah they would have a much greater understanding of the Scriptures. They don't! But God has opened our eyes to see because He has called us and given us His Spirit, and we love Him and serve Him, and He is revealing these things to His people.

Verse 32: "Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,' says the LORD. 'But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel…'" (vs 32-33). Notice that He doesn't say that He's going to be a husband to them again! The Lord God of the Old Testament is the One Who became Jesus Christ of the New Testament, and He is going to marry the bride, those of the Church who will be the bride. He doesn't say that He's going to marry them [the house of Israel] again, but He's going to enter into a New Covenant.

"'…after those days,' says the LORD. 'I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'" (v 33). What does this also tell us? What understanding does this give us? This tells us just exactly like we knew that when He said He didn't give them a heart to obey, and they will all know God and they will be His people again.

Verse 34: "'And they shall no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, "Know the LORD"; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,' says the LORD. 'For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.'" That's how God is going to deal with the children of Israel.

Let's see how it's stated here in the book of Zechariah, the eighth chapter, and we will see here are prophecies of it, as well. The return of Israel to their lands is going to be a great thing. The things that take place at the end-time are worldwide events.

Brethren, just think of what it must have been for all of those in the Church coming down through the centuries that they didn't have a clue as to when Christ was going to return. Now here we are at the end-time for us it's taken a little longer than many of us have figured. Nevertheless, we do have greater understanding than before on the promise of God through the prophet Daniel by the angel speaking to him who said that 'at the time of the end, the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand.'

Isn't it interesting that there are so many things in the book of Revelation that when it first came to the Churches it must have been a tremendous mystery. Here was the final message of God to the Apostle John and he finished canonizing the New Testament. Here the book of Revelation was something, that outside of Rev. 1-5, that was a great mystery. How could this be? Especially when you amplify it to be worldwide events. So, we understand it in these days.

Here's what's going to happen, Zechariah 8:12: "'For they shall sow in peace; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel… [there again this helps clarify and give us comprehension as to what's happening in the end-time] …so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, but let your hands be strong.' For thus says the LORD of hosts, 'As I thought to punish you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and I did not repent; so again I have thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not'" (vs 12-15).

Verse 16 tells us that all during the Millennium it's going to be:

• truth
• righteousness
• knowledge of God

with that will come

• the love of God
• the hope of God

Of course, for them hope is not going to be deferred. Hope is going to come at the end of their lifetime, and it will be fulfilled.

We're going to see how people enter into the Kingdom of God—that is the spiritual Kingdom of God. All during the Millennium Judah and Israel are under the Kingdom of God and the Government of God there that will be ruled over by the resurrected saints who are the kings and priests.

Let's see what they're going to do, v 16: "'These are the things that you shall do. Each man speak the truth to his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. And let no one imagine evil in your heart against his neighbor; and do not love a false oath, for all these are things that I hate,' says the LORD" (vs 16-17). That's quite something!

Zechariah 10 tells us about what God is going to do and how He's going to do it. This is really quite something! Again, here it specifically says the house of Judah and the house of Joseph, which includes Ephraim and Manasseh.

Zechariah 10:6: "And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will return to save them; for I have mercy upon them. And they shall be as though I had not cast them off; for I am the LORD their God, and I will answer them. And Ephraim shall be like a mighty one, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine. And their children shall see and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. I will signal for them and gather them; for I have redeemed them. And they shall increase as they formerly increased" (vs 6-8). Isn't that something? God is going to bring them back.

Let's come back and see how the Millennium begins—we'll just take a preview. How is God going to bring them back? It's going to be an amazing thing! What is it going to be like when:

• Christ returns
• the saints are resurrected
• the Sea of Glass is there
• we all come back to the earth
• Satan is put away
• the Millennium begins

Here is what God is going to do, Isaiah 27:12: "And it shall come to pass, in that day the LORD shall thresh from the stream of the river Euphrates to the river of Egypt, and you shall be gathered one by one, O children of Israel. And it shall come to pass, in that day a great ram's horn shall be blown, and those perishing in the land of Assyria shall come, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt shall come and shall worship the LORD in the Holy mountain at Jerusalem" (vs 12-13).

This is going to be really a tremendous thing! We know what's going to happen, we've covered this before. Let's come to the book of Micah. Micah is very interesting because Micah also prophesied at the same time that Isaiah did. This is how it's going to be all during the Millennium, but I want to focus in on the beginning of the Millennium again for a specific purpose, because there is an event to happen that we need to understand so that we can unlock the understanding of Rev. 20. Let's see how all of this is going to come about.

Micah 4:1: "But it shall be in the last days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, 'Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths'—for the law shall go forth out of Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people… [judgment is going to be given to us] …and will rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (vs 1-3).

Men have been trying to bring peace for how many thousands of years? They just can't do it! It takes the Spirit of God and the laws of God! Even with the laws of God without the Spirit of God, you can create a reasonable society.

But you don't know how to take care of the evil when it multiplies like we're seeing in our day. That's why Christ has to return. Remember, Jesus said that if He didn't return and if those days were not limited—to 3-1/2 years—there should be no flesh saved alive. These are going to be quite some days. But, after everything is settled down, and we'll see what takes place before they're settled down:

Verse 4: "But they shall sit each one under his own vine and under his own fig tree; and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken" That's what it's going to be.

In Rev. 20 we find something very interesting in Scripture concerning Satan the devil. Many people have wondered: How is this going to take place and has God really condemned the nations of Gog and Magog to never receiving salvation. When you read Rev. 20 we do get that kind of feeling. If that were the case then we would have to conclude that God is a respecter of persons, and that Gog and Magog are those who are destined to never have salvation. But we're going to see that's not correct.

Why mention Gog and Magog here? Let's explore the Scriptures here and understand what it's saying. Satan is going to be cast into the abyss. It's going to be covered over, Revelation 20:3: "…so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time."

Why do that? Here's a thousand years of peace, a thousand years of every good thing, a thousand years of physical and spiritual blessing to the uttermost! Why would Satan be loosed again? Why is it that it is ordained that he be loosed?

Verse 7: "Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison." And the first thing he does is stir up trouble and make war. Notice where he goes:

Verse 8: "And he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog… [and there were other nations with them] …of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war." So, the first thing that Satan does is stir up war again. We just read that all during the Millennium they're not going to learn war anymore.

• Why Gog and Magog?
• Does this mean the people of Gog and Magog, meaning that they will never receive any salvation?

or

• Does it mean a geographical territory of Gog and Magog for a specific purpose?

Again, we have to go back to the beginning of the Millennium to see what happens. Let's come to Ezekiel 38 and let's see what happens at the beginning of the Millennium and shortly afterward.

Let's reflect a little bit that we saw in Rev. 9, that there were the armies of 200-million, and they stretched all the way back to the Far East and the north. Is it possible that—and probably likely—all of those troops cannot come and surround Jerusalem and be in that one area when Christ returns. There will be armies sent out by the beast and the false prophet who then will suffer the seven last plagues. We still have this vast army.

• Are some of those be left behind?
• Are some of those not destroyed when Christ returns?
• Why is it that Christ has to rebuke strong nations afar off?
• How does that happen?
• Who are these nations?
• Why would He have to do it?

We will get the answer in Ezekiel 38; we're going to see this takes place shortly after the Millennium begins. It's identified here in the Scriptures so that we know it is at that time. Then God has a specific purpose for this war with Gog and Magog and all the other nations with them, and this is going to be the final battle to bring all nations into subjection to the Kingdom of God.

Ezekiel 38:1: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief ruler of Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And say, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief ruler of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed most gorgeously, a great assembly with buckler and shield, all of them swordsmen; Persia… [Iran] …Ethiopia… [India] …and Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his bands; the house of Togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north, and all his bands; and many people with you. Be prepared; yea, prepare for yourself, you and all your assembly that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. After many days you will be summoned. In the latter years you shall come into the land restored from war…'"'" (vs 1-8).

• What land is that, restored from war?
• The Holy Land!
• When does that happen?
• When Christ returns!

—and He brings again the exodus of the children of the house of Judah and the house of Israel; brings them back to their lands. Of course, that whole vast area from the Nile River to the Euphrates River and the area described by Christ is for the people of God. At the beginning of the Millennium they will start there, and then branch out again and go repossess the lands that they had before.

Here we have the latter years, "'…In the latter years you shall come into the land restored from war, gathered out of many people, on the mountains of Israel, which have always been waste…. [that is up until the return of Christ] …(But she has been brought out of the nations, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.)'" (v 8). This tells us something. First, when the Millennium begins, God is going to deal with the children of Israel and Judah.

Back to Gog and Magog, v 9: "'And you shall go up, coming like a storm. You shall be like a cloud to cover the land, you and all your bands, and many people with you.' Thus says the Lord GOD, 'And it shall be in that day that things shall come into your heart, and you shall devise an evil plan. And you shall say, "I will go up to the land of un-walled villages…."'" (vs 9-11).

• no more armaments
• no more fortifications
• no more missiles
• no more armies
• no more ammunition

"'"I will go to those that are at rest… [so they can't be anything other than just in the years shortly after the Millennium] …who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and there are no bars nor gates to them"'" (v 11).

This looks like easy pickings, because those nations will have been so deceived by Satan the devil, even after Satan is put away at the beginning of the Millennium. Their armies are still out there. God is going to leave them out there for this event. We're going to see that this event is the last event that subjugates and brings all nations under the authority and rule of the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints.

Here's why they come, v 12: "'In order to take a spoil, and to steal a prize; to turn your hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, who have gotten cattle and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land.'" Yes, God is blessing them.

As we view the whole world, some nations will come and say, 'Let's go to the house of the Lord and learn of His way and learn of His laws.' But the ones that don't, what is Christ going to have to do? Rebuke those nations! That's all after the Millennium starts. We're not told exactly how long this is.

• Could this be three and a half years?
• Could this be seven years?

We're not told exactly, but we know some time after the beginning of the Millennium this is going to happen because this is what it describes.

Verse 14: "Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "In that day when My people of Israel dwell securely… [a Millennial setting] …shall you not know it? And you shall come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many people with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army. And you shall come up on My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It shall be in the latter days, and I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified in you, O Gog, before their eyes"'" (vs 14-16).

The nations are going to know God because of this! Just like anything else, human nature is hard to change. Unless God grants repentance, unless God grants His Spirit, they're going to react this way. God is saving them for this one final mighty battle after the Millennium has begun.

Satan was bound at the beginning of the Millennium, so here's the residual of those nations, and they see that here's an opportunity. There are no defenses. Look at all that they have, what easy pickings this is going to be, because they are not going to accept the fact that God is ruling on the earth. It says that they don't know Him, nor do some of the other nations. "…so that the nations may know Me when I shall be sanctified in you, O Gog, before their eyes."

Verse 17: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Are you he of whom I have spoken in former days, by the hand of My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,' says the Lord GOD, 'My hot anger will be aroused'" (vs 17-18).

God is going to take care of them! This is going to be the final demonstration of the power of God, Christ as King, the resurrected saints as kings and priests and God's protection of the physical nation of Israel.

Verse 19: "'For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath I have spoken, "Surely in that day there shall be a great quaking in the land of Israel, so that the fish of the sea, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the earth, and all the men on the face of the earth, shall quake at My presence…. [They're all going to know! A final demonstration before universal peace] …And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground." And I will call for a sword against him upon all My mountains,' says the Lord GOD. 'Each man's sword shall be against his brother'" (vs 19-21).

He's going to bring them all down there, and just like He did with the Assyrians when they wanted to come and conquer Judah. They all got up and fought among themselves and killed themselves. This is what's going to happen, and it's going to be awesome!

Verse 22: "'And I will judge him with pestilence and with blood. And I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone. Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself. And I will have Myself known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD'" (vs 22-23).

They're going to be known—Gog and Magog—as those nations who defied God to the very last ounce of strength within them. Of course, after they know God, then will not the descendants of Gog and Magog be granted an opportunity for salvation? Well, if they submit to God and repent—of course, they will!

Ezekiel 39:1 'Therefore, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal. And I will turn you about, and lead you on. And I will bring you up from the uttermost parts of the north, and I will bring you against the mountains of Israel. And I will strike your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your bands, and the people with you. I will give you for food to the birds of prey of every kind, and to the beasts of the field. You shall fall upon the face of the open field, for I have spoken it,' says the Lord GOD" (vs 1-5). Here's God's judgment.

This helps us understand, if we put this together with other Scriptures, why Satan is sent to Gog and Magog. We'll see there's a reason for it.

Verse 6: "'And I will send a fire on Magog, and on those who dwell in the isles. And they shall know that I am the LORD. And I will make My Holy name known in the midst of My people Israel. And I will not let them profane My Holy name any more. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is coming, and it shall be done,' says the Lord GOD. 'This is the day of which I have spoken'" (vs 6-8). There's all going to know.

You can read the rest of chapter 39 and we can see that this happens shortly after the Millennium begins. It's for a purpose. Gog and Magog the people then can be separated from Gog and Magog the land.

• Why does Satan go to Gog and Magog to bring them to fight against Jerusalem at the end of the Millennium?
• Who is there?
• How do they get there?
• How is it going to be during the Millennium?

We know and we've read the Scriptures how it's going be really something!

• Everyone is going to know the Lord!
• Conversion for all people!
• God's Spirit for all people!

It begins with Israel and it goes out to all the nations.

Let's come to Isaiah 65 and let's see something from these Scriptures that give us an understanding of how things will be, how long people will live, and let's understand something also very important here:

• even though the Kingdom of God is ruling on the earth
• even though the Holy Spirit is offered to everyone who repents

We also have to understand that there will be those who won't repent! God has given free choice! One thing that God does not take from anyone is their free choice. God is not going to make us into robots and automatons. Robots and automatons cannot rule with God and Christ to rule the whole universe. We have to have the character of God:

• by will and choice
• by repentance and belief
• by faith and understanding

So likewise, they will during the Millennium; although it's all going to be right in front of them.

Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…." When the Millennium begins is not God going to have to create new heavens and new earth—repair the whole earth? Yes, indeed! The earth will be in shambles and in ruins, so this can apply. We've applied many times to the Great White Throne Judgment, yes, and it's entirely proper to apply it to that. But let's apply it to the Millennium and let's see what we come up with here.

"…And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 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" (vs 17-19). We're going to see that this applies to physical people.

Verse 20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days, nor an old man that has not filled his days… [What does it mean filled his days? We get an answer right in the next phrase]: …for the child will die a hundred years old; but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed." Here's where we get a 100-year period.

Let's see if we can understand these Scriptures. Let's see if we can put them together so we can realize how things will be during the Millennium.

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 areso will be the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands" (vs 21-22). This shows physical people. This is telling us how the Millennium will progress. People will live to be 100-years-old. We have two things:

• for the child shall die 100-years-old
• the sinner who is 100-years-old shall be accursed

How are we going to understand that?

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Let's understand how the Millennium is going to end and why God looses Satan at the end of the Millennium. There's going to be a reason. Let's begin to analyze right here:

Verse 20: "There will not be an infant who lives but a few days… [they're all going to fulfill their lives] …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."

• What is the division here between the righteous and the sinner?
• The righteous are those who enter into the Kingdom of God!
• Why does it say, "…the child will die a hundred years old…"?

In other world, everyone's going to fulfill their life, live 100 years, but they're going to die.

• How long will they be dead?

Let's answer the question why everyone needs to die, Heb. 9:27. This tells us why everyone has to die. What is the difference between an infant who lives to be 100-years-old and dies compared to a sinner 100-years-old is accursed?

• if they fulfill their days
• if they love God
• if they are obedient
• if they have the Holy Spirit of God

that puts them into a particular category—does it not? Yes, it does!

But here is one thing that God has decreed, Hebrews 9:27: "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment." Well, all of those who live in the Millennium will be judged everyday just like we are who

• have been called
• have repented
• been baptized
• received the Holy Spirit of God
• are living God's way
• growing in grace and knowledge
• overcoming and changing

—we are going to die! But then there will be the resurrection. So, the child that dies at 100-years-old is obviously then going to be changed. But there has to be that instantaneous death, because it says it's "…given to man once to die…"

How do we understand this? I think we get answer, for those who are still alive after Christ returns and the first resurrection takes place:

1-Thessalonians 4:16: "Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first." That's why we have the first resurrection. However, not everyone who is a Christian is going to be dead and in the grave. What's going to happen to them?

Verse 17: "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds for the meeting with the Lord in the air; and so shall we always be with the Lord." Those who are alive, what is going to happen to them? They're going to be changed! How are they going to be changed? They must have an instantaneous death and transformation! That's what must take place.

We'll put the Scriptures together to see if we can get the understanding we need as to what is going to happen.

1-Corinthians 15:49: "And as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one." Meaning we have to transformed:

• by the resurrection, if we're dead and in the ground
• in order to get rid of the physical body and the law of sin and death, there has to be an instantaneous death then an instantaneous transformation—BANG! BANG!

Verse 50: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, nor does corruption [fleshly] inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye…" (vs 50-52).

Let's apply that to those who live during the Millennium. They live 100 years. It comes time for them to enter into the Kingdom of God. It says they're going to die at 100-years-old. That is going to be an instantaneous death and instantaneous transformation so they can enter the spiritual Kingdom of God. That fulfills all the Scriptures—doesn't it? Yes, indeed!

What about the sinner. It says, "…the sinner that dies shall be accursed…"—which means that person did not repent; refused salvation; refused to do the will of God. They're sinners!

• What does God do with sinners if they can't die?
• What do I mean by that?
• What happens when we come toward the end of the Millennium?

There comes a time when the sinner will not be able to live 100 years and then die.

• What's going to happen to them?
• What if it comes to a time—like we saw all the way through—even like with Solomon?

After all the good things that God did with Solomon; all the things that God did with His people during that time; that there were those who did not obey God.

Let's come back to Adam and Eve; we have two clear-cut cases here. What happened to them when they had sinned? They were living with God in the Garden of Eden. They sinned, but God did not want to bring upon them the death penalty immediately, otherwise the plan of God could not go forward. If they were dead they would be unable to have children.

What did God do? He removed them from the Garden of Eden! When you're removed from the presence of God that is an exile. We see that God removed sinners by exiling them.

Now let's look at the case of Cain, who murdered his brother Abel. What happened? God did not exercise the death penalty upon him either—did He? No! He sent Cain further exiled into the land of Nod or the Land of Wandering.

Let's view it this way, toward the end of the Millennium there is a generation of people who have grown up to all and this society, but they choose not to obey God. What did God do to the ten tribes of the children of Israel when they sinned? Let's see what God did, because God obviously did not execute them. He let them live out their lives, die and be buried after they were exiled.

2-Kings 17:8—talking about the children of Israel: "And walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel…"—instead of following God.

• What happen during the Millennium when someone says, 'I don't want to obey'?
• What happens if they commit a very serious crime, but it's not yet worthy of death and they don't have time to live out 100 years?
• What if we have people during the Millennium who do these things?

"…whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel…"

• What did God do with the heathen?
• He got rid of them, got them out of the land!
• Now what does God do with the children of Israel because of their sins?
• He exiles them into captivity because they disobeyed!

Verse 9: "Now the children of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God. And they built high places in all their cities for themselves from the Watch Tower to the fortified city. And they set up images and groves for themselves in every high hill, and under every green tree. And they burned incense in all the high places, like the nations whom the LORD had removed from before them, and they practiced evil things to provoke the LORD to anger" (vs 9-11). We see that God said, 'Don't do these things!'

Verse 13: "And the LORD testified against Israel and against Judah, by all the prophets, by all the seers, saying, 'Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.' Nevertheless, they would not hear…" (vs 13-14).
What are we going to do with those who choose not to obey? Isa. 65 says that they're 'accursed.' If they live to be 100-years they are accursed and buried, which is their first death. Everyone has to have a first death. But what has to happen to all sinners? All the incorrigible sinners must die twice! It says that there is the second death.

What happens if those in the Millennium, there are some who will choose and refuse to obey God, and there's not enough time for them to live to be 100 and be buried and be accursed that way? What is God going to do with them? Will He do with them as He did with Adam and Eve, and Cain, and the children of Israel and Judah? God testified and said to 'keep My ways.'

Verse 14: "Nevertheless, they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like the neck of their fathers who did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected His statutes and His covenant, which He made with their fathers, and His warnings that He testified against them. And they went after vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them not to do like them" (vs 14-15).

Again, apply this to the last generation of the Millennium and let's think about what we have already covered.

Verse 16: "And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God and made molten images, two calves for themselves. And they made a grove, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire. And they used divination and sorceries, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger" (vs 16-17). What if there are people who do that by choice?

Here's what happens, v 18: "So, the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of His sight…" He sent them off into exile. The Assyrians took them away.

What's going to happen during the Millennium? Could it be—and it sounds like it is entirely possible that it's going to be—that there is part of the area of Gog and Magog that will be reserved and set aside for the incorrigible wicked who refuse to repent. They will be removed and exiled to Gog and Magog. Can you see how that can happen?

Look at the history of human behavior as we covered earlier, how that humans when they disregard God become lukewarm. Did it not happen to the Church? Can it not happen to those people, as well? Yes, indeed! We grow up in a society and everything is here.
For example: There isn't hardly anyone left who does not remember the time when we didn't have electricity, and didn't have transportation like we have it today. Now we can fly here and there and go anywhere in the world anytime we want to. We take these things for granted. We take the way that things are, that are setup, for granted. Then we begin to sin, because when you take it for granted animosity and hatred begins to build up. This has to be, because these people did not repent and were not baptized. These are carnal people in the last generation of the Millennium.

• What are you going to do with them?
• Are you going to execute them?

or

• Are you going to save them all for one last grand deception by Satan the devil?

Let's go back and read this again. Let's come back to Rev. 20, and with this in mind and understanding what it's talking about. Remember, we can depend on the Scriptures—correct? God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and that applies to Christ. The Lord says He changes not. God must handle the sinners who cannot die toward the end of the Millennium, because there's not enough time for them to live to be 100-years-old; He has to exile them! He has to remove them from His Kingdom!

Where will He put them? We read how infamous Gog and Magog were in their rebellion at the beginning of the Millennium! It just so happens that Gog and Magog is where Siberia is today. Think about that for a minute! What have the Russians done to the dissidents in their civilization? Even with the Czars and down through the Soviet Union and will be happening again, I am sure? They exile them to Siberia!

Since the wicked must be removed, and since there's not enough time for them to die—to live 100 years and die accursed—while they're still living they're accursed. They must be removed from the Kingdom of God! Is this why we find people from 'nations'? Let's see the sequence of events of what's going to happen:

• Satan is bound for a thousand years
• after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time

Why? Why be loosed? Because there is yet one more mission that Satan has to do! He has to go out and deceive those who have been exiled.

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…" (vs 7-8).

Let's understand something about Gog and Magog. They willingly chose to reject God's way so they had to be removed. They were not deceived. They gave up salvation by their own free choice, their own free will.

• They rejected God.
• They rejected their teachers—us, as kings and priests.
• They rejected everything about God's way and God said, 'Go! If you don't want to live here, you're going to live over there.'

Just picture after a thousand years there's going to be a great population. Think of it! How many are going to choose, at that time because they're not willing to repent? not willing to be baptized? reject the Holy Spirit of God? They're sent off into a place of exile!

Is it possible that some may go there and repent? Want to come back and then repent? That's possible! We don't know! Notice what it says here:

Verse 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). This has to be the geographical area of Gog and Magog, not the people. This is the land of Gog and Magog, not the people of Gog and Magog.

Just like there is the land of Israel, but there are the children of Israel. Just like when they sinned, they were exiled out of the land of Israel into another land, so likewise when the people at the end of the Millennium reject salvation, they are removed and then Satan deceives them into what?

I don't know exactly how it's going to be, but when Satan comes out of his prison and he's sent to those people and he performs signs and wonders and miracles—because he's able to do that—is he going to convince them that he is really God, and that all of these people ruling over them with all of these rules and regulations and laws and things like this, that they are the evil ones. After all, you choose not to obey.

'Yes, that must have been very wise on your part. I am here,' Satan will tell them, 'and let's do this: We know they don't have any defense around Jerusalem. We know that if we work up an army and come to do battle against them, and if we succeed—which we can—then we'll take over the kingdom.'

Does that sound like the plan that Satan had in previous times? Yes! What else does Satan have to deceive the people? All the demons will also be restrained in the abyss that was sealed, so they will be released and go with Satan, as well! They will do tremendous and wondrous things. So, these people will be deceived and believe that they can actually regain the power and take it from God. All they have to do is go down and conquer Jerusalem, and the best time to do it is at the Feast of Tabernacles.

With that setup, "…of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (v 8). All during the Millennium they didn't learn war. As soon as Satan is removed, what happens? War! What happened when Satan first rebelled against God? War in heaven! What happens when Christ returns? War against Christ and the angels and the resurrected saints! Every time Satan is loosed there is war! Why this war? Well, they think that perhaps they're going to regain power!

But notice what they do, v 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints, and the beloved city [Jerusalem on earth]…" Here they're coming against the camp of the saints, and what is the tabernacle that is over Jerusalem? The cloud by day and pillar of fire by night! So, they look around and see no defenses. Here they are, whatever weapons they have, I'm sure that Satan showed them how to make the weapons and what to do, and stir them all up in their hatred toward God.

Here they come in this battle and are going to reap vengeance against God and against the saints. After all, they would be so familiar with them that they will be blinded in their disobedience that they won't even realize that they have absolutely no power against God. Same deception that Satan had: he thought he could become like God. He thought that with one-third of the angels he could overcome God, take the throne of God, defeat the angels of God, and God and Christ, and take over the universe. Well, that's the same thing that he's going to tell them here. Notice what happened:

"…and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them" (v 9). Isn't that interesting? If they're destroyed in this fire, what is that death? That is their first death. So, God does this to the incorrigible wicked in the last part of the Millennium for those who reject God and His way. He sends them off into captivity to Gog and Magog. When the thousand years are finished, Satan is loosed out of his prison and he goes to deceive them into coming and fighting against God!

Now then, this brings the first death to every one of those sinners and the sinner dies accursed in this last generation, even though they couldn't live to be 100-years-old. That's the last thing that God is going to use Satan the devil for. Then notice what happens. Here comes the judgment of Satan the devil:
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… [they were cast there at the beginning of the Millennium] ….and they [plural], Satan and the demons…" Flesh is going to burn up in the Lake of Fire, so the beast who was a human being, and the false prophet who was a human being, were burned up when they were cast into the Lake of Fire. But Satan and the demon being composed of spirit, the fire does not destroy them.

"…and they, Satan and the demons shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity" (v 10). That sets the stage for the final great harvest of God as pictured by the Last Great Day.

This is the fate of Satan and the demons. Later it shows that the blackness of darkness is reserved for them forever! Will that not bring more torment than anything that flames and fire can do? We find that in the book of Jude. This is how the Millennium is going to end. That sets the stage for the greatest harvest of all. That's why we have the Last Great Day.

Come back tomorrow and we will learn the message of the Last Great Day.

Scriptural References:

• Jeremiah 31:31-34
• Zechariah 8:12-17
• Zechariah 10:6-8
• Isaiah 27:12-13
• Micah 4:1-4
• Revelation 20:3, 7-8
• Ezekiel 38:1-12, 14-23
• Ezekiel 39:1-8
• Isaiah 65:17-22, 20
• Hebrews 9:27
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
• 1 Corinthians 15:49-52
• 2 Kings 17:8-11, 13-18
• Revelation 20:7-10

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Hebrews 8
• Revelation 1-5; 9
• Jude