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Fred Coulter - October 14, 2000
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This is the holy day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the 15th day of the seventh month. Now let’s go back to Leviticus 23. Of course as you know we always begin all the holy days back there because back there is contained all the holy days of God with the instructions on when to keep them, in their seasons, and so forth. And it’s very interesting, what the world thinks is unimportant, or what the world discounts and says, “Well, this is just all sacrificial and ceremonial and we don’t have to keep them.” In that, God has preserved and given the outline for His plan from which then we can go through the scriptures, rightly divide the scriptures, put them together in such a way so that we are able to understand the purpose of God, as we saw last night.
Now let’s begin again right here in verse 33 of Leviticus 23. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation…”, and that is today. Began last night at sundown, and runs till tonight at sundown. .”…Ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly: and ye shall do no servile work therein” (Lev. 23:33-36). That means you’re not to work for hire.
“These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations…” Meaning that we have no alternative but to proclaim them as holy convocations, that these are what God has given. And a holy convocation means, as we saw last night, “the appointed feasts of God”, or the appointed time. And God has set it in motion. And it says, “…a burnt offering, and a [meal] meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, everything upon his day:” And as I mentioned last night, you go to Numbers 28 and 29 and that lists all of the sacrifices in order the way that they should be. Now let’s continue on. “Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD” (vs. 37-38). So all of these are included.
“Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath…” Now then you can go through here in the Leviticus 23 and you can go through the rest of the Bible and you’ll understand that not only do you have the weekly Sabbath, but every holy day is a Sabbath. “…And on the eighth day shall be a sabbath” (vs. 39). There you have it again. You see, so if you have one, the weekly Sabbath, then you have to have all the rest, the annual Sabbaths.
Then it says, and this is what they did in Israel… “And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:” Now today we go to temporary dwellings. And even if you happen to be stuck in your home and can’t get out, your home is still a temporary dwelling, isn’t it? It’s not going to last forever, is it? No it isn’t. “That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD” (vs. 40-44).
Now let’s go to Deuteronomy 16:16. “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee” (Deut. 16:16-17). And we always take up an offering on the holy day. And as I’ve said before, I’ll say again, it has to be from the heart, it has to be willing, and it has to be that you have come before God in a way prepared to bring an offering. And also understand this, as I’ve said before, if you feel as though you have been so burned from being merchandised, you’ve got to come to the point that you overcome that. You’ve got to come to the point to understand what God means with His commands here.
Now then, if you have been in such a thing that you just feel as though because you can’t trust anybody that you can’t give any money, well then by all means don’t do so, but you have to understand you have to get it worked with God one way or the other in time because these are offerings that belong to God.
At this time we’ll pause and we will take up the offering.
(Pause)
Every one of the holy days of God has a fulfillment for the Old Testament, for the New Testament, and on into eternity. Now let’s look at the fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles, the first holy day, for Israel on a very special day. Now let’s read it here beginning in 2 Chronicles 5. This was when the temple was finished. Now let’s read it beginning in verse 1. “Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month” (2 Chron. 5:1-3). And we will see that is the Feast of Tabernacles.
“And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude” (vs. 4-6). And what they did, they had extra burnt offering altars where they could put all the sacrifices that they had. Untold for number, so you talk about feasting, talk about eating. This was really a time for them. And this was a great moment, not only in history, but a great moment for the children of Israel, and a great moment for God because He fulfilled the promise that He gave to David.
Verse 7, “And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: for the cherubims spread for their wings over the place of the ark…” Now what actually happened was, they had the cedar of Lebanon and they carved the cherubim right into the walls. And so these wings came up like this and overshadowed the cherubim, plus you had the wings of the cherubim then which were on the Ark of the Covenant. So you had both. These were all overlaid with gold in the holy of holies. “…And the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above” (vs. 7-8).
“And they drew out the staves of the ark…”, because that’s how the Levites carried it. They put staves in it and carried it on their shoulders. “…That the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without [that is outside]. And there it is unto this day” (vs. 9). Now, this was probably written by Hezekiah. This part may have been some of the history of Hezekiah because the Ark of the Covenant was not in the second temple when it was dedicated during the days of Ezra. So therefore this could not have been edited by Ezra, but there is known that there was quite a bit of editing to the Old Testament and writing of it by king Hezekiah.
“There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course…” (vs. 10-11). David listed it all out according to courses or shifts so a shift of priest would work for a week and another course would work for a week, but in the holy days they all came in to work. So here at this Feast of Tabernacles, as we will see that it was, they were all working.
“Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them…”, [then it lists them] “…with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)” (vs. 12). Now I used to think because a trumpet was blown that this was on the Feast of Trumpets. But now that I understand the Hebrew more, it could not have been the Feast of Trumpets, as we will see when we get over here to chapter 7.
Now notice what happened. “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” (v. 13-14). Now you go back and read in the book of Exodus, Exodus 40, and that’s what God did when the tabernacle was set up. He filled His glory by showing that His presence was there by the cloud that came. And so this is really quite a thing.
Then all of chapter 6 we have the prayer of Solomon, according to all that he has said there. And that’s quite a prayer. And it’s all written here for us to understand. Now this prayer will still apply to the children of Israel because God is going to save the children of Israel first when the millennium begins, as we will see.
Now let’s come to chapter 7 and verse 1. “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house” (2 Chron. 7:1). So this was a spectacular time. I wonder what it was like to be there when the people were there at that time. Tremendous blessing. Absolutely marvelous. The house of God was finished, all the priests were there, the singers were there, the instruments were there, king Solomon was there. He gave this great and awesome prayer for the dedication of the house and for all the people of Israel coming on down even to our time. And then to see the house of God filled with the cloud that came, and then after the prayer was over to have the fire come down from heaven and consume that offering. That must have really been spectacular. You know, sometimes it makes you wonder, “What does it take for people to really know and understand and believe God. You know, it’s really true. A miracle never convinced anybody. Now you stop and think about how Solomon started out and then look how he ended up. Quite a story for us, isn’t it?
Verse 2, “And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because of the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement…” I guess so. You would really fear God and understand that it was God. “…And worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever” (vs. 2-3). What a time that must have been. Just reading it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep..” Boy, they were really having a feast, weren’t they? How’s that for starting out a Feast of Tabernacles. We’ve never started out one like that have we? “…So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praises the LORD, because His mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat” (vs. 4-7).
“Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days…” Now we’ll see this is the Feast of Tabernacles. “…And all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.” Now the Hebrew is structured to show that these were laid one on top of the other. So this Feast of Tabernacles was a double feast. A feast of dedication of the temple and the altar, and the Feast of Tabernacles. And then on the eighth day, now we’ll see it here… “And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month [that is the day after the Last Great Day] he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel His people” (vs. 8-10). And so that’s really quite a thing. This was so tremendous.
God Himself was so inspired. Let’s read it here, verse 11. “Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king’s house: and all that came into Solomon’s heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for an house of sacrifice.” And then notice what He says here, all the way through how God says, “If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people: if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (vs. 11-14). Now you can read all the rest of the prayer. That’s quite a thing.
And brethren, can we pray this for the Church today? That God would hear, that they would turn. That they would humble themselves and repent and come back to God. That would be a tremendous and wonderful thing if that happened.
Now, let’s come to the gospel of John and let’s see another fulfillment of this where it talks about Jesus Christ. Here we have in the Old Covenant, with the temple of Solomon that what happened? God put His presence there. He came to dwell among them, and that was the whole purpose. You go back and read there in Exodus 25 the whole purpose that God had for having the tabernacle was so that He could dwell among His people. And now He chose Jerusalem. Now the temple was finished. Now He put His presence in it. And then true to the covenant that God said, if the children of Israel forsook Him and did not repent then He would remove the temple, He would remove everything, which He did and sent the Babylonians to capture the people and take them off into captivity into Babylon. That was after already the ten tribes of the north were carried off into captivity by the king of Assyria.
And then after 70 years of punishment that they had in Babylon, then a few thousand came back. You have to understand not very many came back. And when they came back there was no ark of the covenant in the temple. It was still God’s temple, and the second temple was a smaller temple. Later when we come to before the days of Jesus, they spent 49 years remodeling and updating the temple to make it splendorous so that when Christ came to His temple then it would be meaningful and He would fulfill yet another prophecy.
Now let’s come here to John 1:14. “And the Word [Who was God] was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Now the word there “dwelt” means “to tabernacle”. So the whole life of Christ living on the earth from the time that He was begotten until the time that He died, He was tabernacling with His people - temporary dwelling. He tabernacled “…among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Now let’s see that Jesus came to His temple. Came suddenly to His temple. Let’s hold your place here, and we’ll come back to John 2, but let’s go to Malachi 3 and let’s see the prophecy of it. And let’s see what Malachi prophesied about Christ coming to the temple and then we will go to John 2 and see what He did.
Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I will send My messenger [that was John the Baptist], and he shall prepare the way before Me…” Now this is the Lord speaking so we know that when Christ came that He was coming as the LORD God of the Old Testament, only in the flesh. “…And the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, Whom ye delight in: behold He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”
Now let’s come to John 2 and see when that was. This time it wasn’t in power and glory, but it was in spiritual strength with spiritual determination. This time to cleanse the temple from the evil that was there. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 13. This time He came during the Passover season or the Days of Unleavened Bread, maybe just before.
“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the [ex] changers of money sitting…” (vs. 13-14). Now what they would do is this: the Jews who would come in from the different countries, they would have the foreign money-whatever it was. And the money exchangers would exchange for the foreign money they would give them the temple money so they could buy the sacrifices, and they could also give the money into the offering of God. Now the temple money then, was considered very precious. For what they would do, that’s why it was called a den of thieves and robbers, they would short change them on the exchange and they made them pay a high price for the animals that they bought. So that’s why Christ came in and did what He did. “…And poured out the [ex] changers’ money, and overthrew the tables” (vs. 15). Now that must have been a spectacular event. You know, nothing like this ever happened before.
“And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things [out of here] hence; make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise. And His disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up.” (vs. 16-17). Of course the Jews said, “Well, what sign are you going to give us?” And He said, Well, destroy this temple and I’ll raise it up in three days.” So Christ came. We know He’s going to come again. Jesus gave the promise, didn’t He? He told His apostles, “If I go I will come again and receive you unto Myself so that where I am you may also be.”
Now let’s see how this is going to be fulfilled. Let’s come to Zechariah 14, back just a few pages from the gospels here. And Zechariah is the book just before Malachi, so you come to Zechariah 14 and we’ll see how He’s going to come this time. Only this time there is no temple to enter into. God is not going to enter into the temple that the Jews will build in Jerusalem because even though they will call it the temple of God, Christ is not going to go into it.
Now let’s read it here. Let’s begin in verse 1. “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations…” Now we’re going to talk an awful lot about the nations and what it’s going to take, and how it’s going to be that God is going to bring them in subjection when the kingdom of God begins when Christ rules as King on the earth. “…As when He fought in the day of battle” (Zechariah 14:1-3).
“And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives…” Now we saw that’s the Feast of Trumpets. That’s a tremendous…look at the power that is associated with this. And that is the mountain from which He ascended into heaven. Remember they went out to the Mount of Olives and all the disciples were there and He was instructing them, and as He was talking to them He was lifted right up into the air and He disappeared out of their sight. The angel said, “Why do you stand here looking in the air? This same Jesus shall so come as He went.” And so here it is right here, the fulfillment of that. “…Which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst [that is split in two] thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (vs. 4). So we can trust and realize that even if the temple of the Jew was standing at that time it wouldn’t be standing after this because this is a mighty earthquake. This is a great and fantastic earthquake. You talk about how it was when the LORD God of the Old Testament came down upon Mt. Sinai and where there was the smoking and the thunder and the lightning and everything that took place, just think what it’s going to be here. It’s going to be something.
“And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah…”. Because when he went in to offer incense what happened? There was that great earthquake and it nearly destroyed the temple. And it wasn’t used for another 50 years. So this was a great earthquake. Josephus says that the ground rose up like a wave - four-foot wave just going right down through everything. That’ll destroy everything. So that was a tremendous earthquake. Now notice, finishing here, “… and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with Thee” (vs. 5). So we’ll be with Christ. He’s coming down on the Feast of Trumpets, as we saw when we went through on the day of Trumpets.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem…” Because when the mountain is split then there’s going to be living waters coming out, which is going to go out and start healing all the earth. “…Half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winger shall it be. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth…” And so this is going to be the beginning of the millennium. But as we saw first with the Day of Atonement, you must remove the author of sin. So Satan, as we saw in the first part of Revelation 20 is removed and bound in the bottomless pit or the abyss for a thousand years. So He is “…King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one” (vs. 6-9).
Now let’s see a Psalm concerning this. There is going to be great celebration when this takes place. And when God begins to reign, which this Feast of Tabernacles pictures. It pictures the reign of God and what He is going to do. Let’s come here to Psalm 97. Here’s a Psalm which says something about the reign of God and what He’s going to do. And then we’ll examine from that point after Christ is on the earth and all the saints are with Him. Of course then we’ll have our assignments, but what is the earth going to be like? What is going to happen? Well all the nations immediately just throw down all their weapons and give up everything and say, “Oh yes, this is the Lord God from heaven.”? Well, we’ll have to see, no it won’t quite happen that way. Now some will. But you see, remember all the nations gather together there, the battle of Armageddon. Now not all the armies of all the nations were there. There were still armies left back in the different countries and the nations, and we’re going to see that Christ has to take care of those. So beginning with His reign He will.
Psalm 97:1, “The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne [contrary to the thrones of men, which are wickedness and corruptness]. A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about.” So that’s going to take place when Christ returns. “His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth” (Psa. 97:1-5). So this is a mighty thing that is going to happen.
“The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images…” And we’re going to have to get rid of all idols, aren’t we? That’s going to take a process of time, won’t it? “…That boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods. Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O LORD. For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness” (vs. 6-12). So when He starts reigning it’s going to be power. And it’s going to come. And it’s going to be something to behold. And it’s going to be done in a progressive way.
Now, we read last night Revelation 20, “And I saw thrones, and they [that] sat upon them…” These are the ones who are the resurrected saints with Christ. “…And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years, and judgment was given to them” (Rev. 20:4, paraphrased). And remember, you are blessed and you are holy to have part in the first resurrection. That is going to be a tremendous thing. So let’s see what’s going to happen. Let’s see how this is all going to take place.
First, Israel will be saved. That, we have to understand, is going to take place first. Now let’s come here to Isaiah 29. Israel is going to be saved first. That is the first order of business. Now Isaiah 29:18, “And in that day shall the deaf hear the word of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the terrible one is brought to nought…” That is Satan the devil. The earth is going to rejoice and part of the rejoicing is going to be when the millennium begins everyone will know that Satan has been cast into the abyss and bound. No more Satan. No more deception. Been brought to nought. “…And the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought” (Isaiah 29:18-21).
“Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he seeth his children, the work of Mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify My name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding…” So God is going to first deal with Israel. He’s going to begin to teach them. Those who erred in spirit are going to come to understand Him. “…And they that murmured [now no more complainers] shall learn doctrine” (vs. 22-24). Now, you see doctrine is important. As a matter of fact doctrine is what separates truth from error. True doctrine. So it’s important. They’re going to learn it. They’re going to understand that they went through here.
Now since we’re here in Isaiah, let’s come back to chapter 26. Let’s see about Israel being saved first. And of course we’re going to have a part in that and then we will branch out to the rest of the world after that. It’ll all come in time. God has a purpose. God has a plan. He’s going to work it out and we’re going to see that it’s going to be just a little different than we thought. It’s not going to be done instantly for the whole world. It’s going to be a process that’s going to take place. It’ll begin first with Israel.
Isaiah 26:1, “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” And of course that’s going to be us. We will be a nation of kings and priests just as Peter said. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee” (Isa. 26:1-3).
“Trust ye in the LORD…” That’s what we’re going to be preaching. First thing we’re going to do is say, “The LORD reigns in Jerusalem. Trust in Him. Trust in His might. Trust in His word. Repent and return to God.” We’re going to preach the message of repentance. And boy I tell you after the tribulation and what Israel has gone through they’re going to be ready to repent. Now that’s going to be a wonderful thing to see. They’re going to abhor all their Sunday and Christmas and Easter, and all the holidays of this world, and taking God’s name in vain with all their false religions and things. Boy what a time that is going to be. And Satan removed and God opening their minds to begin to understand. “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (vs. 4). So that’s going to happen.
Now let’s come here, since we’re in Isaiah we’ll continue in Isaiah for a while and see how Israel’s going to be saved. Let’s come to chapter 45. Now what I want you to understand, as God is saving Israel we’re going to have a part in it because we are spiritual Israel. And we will help and we will serve physical Israel and restore them. They will be brought back to their lands. They’re not all going to be brought back to the area of what we know as Palestine, today called Israel. Those of Israel who are in the United States will come back to that land. Those who are Britain will come back to that land. Those who are of Canada will come back to that land. And those who are in Australia and New Zealand will come back to that land. All the ones who in the flesh lived through the tribulation, that God has spared them then He’s going to bring them back.
Now let’s pick it up here Isaiah 45:11. “Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons…” Now that applies to us as spirit beings, the children of God, but it will also apply to Israel because they will be His sons in the flesh again. “…And concerning the work of My hands command ye Me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded” (Isa. 45:11-12). So now He’s beginning to let them know who He really is.
Now come over here to verse 17. “But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation…” Now that applies two ways. One, to spiritual Israel that is raised at the first resurrection, being the Church. And to physical Israel at the beginning of the millennium. “…Ye shall not be [afraid] ashamed nor confounded world without end. For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (vs. 17-18). And that’s what’s going to be taught around the world. He is God and there is none else. And furthermore all of those that are of the God family, there is none else. You need to understand that. We’re going to have tremendous share, a tremendous thing to do. And this world has to be straightened out. It’s going to take some time to do it.
Now let’s come back here to Isaiah 43:1. “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not…” Now they need to have that message because they’ve been through the tribulation, and they are coming out of captivity. “…For I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I willbe with thee [that is on the way coming back to their land]; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…” (Isa. 43:1-3). And Israel in the flesh is going to know that. Not only is He the physical Savior but He is the spiritual Savior.
Now let’s continue on in verse 3. “For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I GAVE Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in My sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” Now brethren we need to understand the dual fulfillment of it here, that is for us who are in the Church today, the spiritual Israel. And that is for Israel at the beginning of the millennium. And it’s going to be a tremendous thing to teach them and help them, and bring them back and to be a part of that plan of God to restore Israel. And here’s what we’ll say, “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the end of the earth; Even every one that is called by My name [and Israel is called by God’s name]: for I have created Him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (vs. 3-7). That’s a tremendous thing. That is going to be a wonderful thing that is going to happen.
Now let’s come to Jeremiah 31 and let’s see what God is going to do. So this is a tremendous ministry that’s going to be to Israel. And as it were, if we look at it this way, we’re going to get our practice start by working with Israel first. Then it’s going to go out to the other nations, and we’ll see how it goes out to the other nations.
Here, Jeremiah 31:7, “For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, and remnant of Israel.” So Israel’s going to be saved first and all the nations of the world are going to understand this. “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way…” And the rivers of water then is a type of the Holy Spirit. Remember what Jesus said on the Last Great Day there in John 7. “Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” This is what it’s talking about. So they will have salvation given to them. They will have their chance at being converted. “…Wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jer. 31:7-9).
Now let’s come over here to verse 31. When Israel is all back then something else is going to happen. God is going to make a new covenant with them. See the new covenant for us is the New Covenant for the Church. Then God is going to make a New Covenant with Israel and with Judah. Now it will be a covenant similar to ours. But it can’t be exactly the same because we are the Church of the Firstborn. So now Israel is going to be saved. And whenever God deals with His people He does so through covenants so He’s going to make another covenant.
Now let’s pick it up here in verse 31. “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days [and that is after the days of bringing them back out of captivity], saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts [meaning they’re going to receive the Holy Spirit], and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people” (vs. 31-33). Tremendous thing that is going to happen. And we’re going to have a part in that.
Now notice, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (vs. 34). So that is a tremendous thing that is going to happen and we have a part in that. We’re going to help restore it.
Now let’s come back to the book of Isaiah 41 and let’s see some more here about Israel being saved. Israel being saved first. Then God will deal with the rest of the nations. Remember, as soon as Christ puts His foot on the Mount of Olives it’s going to split open and then living waters of restoration will go out to the former sea and the hinder sea, and that will flow out around all the earth and gradually everything will be restored physically. And this is going to be something which then the nations will think that everything is going to be alright, but God has not yet begun to deal with them. He’s still dealing with Israel. Let’s understand that.
Isaiah 41:8, “But thou, Israel, art My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art My servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not…” There is going to be a lot of preaching on “Fear not” because of all the trauma and stress and tribulation and shock that people will have gone through, through all of the horrors of the tribulation. And they are going to have the nightmares and they’re going to have the fear, and they’re going to have the nightsweats. And they’re going to have to be told “Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee…” So God is going to heal them with His Spirit. “…I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish” (Isaiah 41:8-11).
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Now continuing on in verse 12. “Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of naught. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (vs. 12-13). Now I want you to stop right here and just think in your own life. Whatever your circumstances are, whatever the difficulty may be, fear not. God says He will help you. Trust in that help. Rely in that help. Come to God in faith and ask for that help. He promised.
Now notice, verse 14. “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” And so then He shows what He’s going to do here in fighting against those who fought against Israel. Now we’ll see that in just a minute.
Let’s come to Ezekiel 36 and let’s see what else is going to happen to Israel and then we will see how God will begin dealing with the other nations of the world. But Israel is going to be saved first, and we’re going to have a part in that, a great part in that.
Ok, Ezekiel 36:23, “And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the heathen…” Now we’re going to see how He will do this in a little bit. “…Which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” So first the nations of the world are going to see what’s happening to Israel. Then He’s going to be dealing with those nations and He will be sanctified in their eyes. “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezek. 36:23-25).
Now, here’s what’s going to happen. The hard carnal heart is going to be softened. And that’s going to be something. You think about it, because no more is Satan there, the prince of the power of the air with the wave lengths going out to cover the whole earth and seduce men into sinning. Verse 26, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Now changing the attitude, isn’t that something? “And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them” (vs. 26-27).
Now let’s understand something here very profound what this is telling us. “I will put My Spirit within you…” When we are baptized and receive the Spirit of God, the Spirit of God is within us. Now you see, this does not release us from keeping the commandments and laws of God. No, quite the other way around. It gives us the heart and the mind through conversion to be willing to keep them. And this is what is going to happen to Israel. So you see the only way you can truly keep the laws and commandment and statutes and judgments of God is with the Holy Spirit of God. Just the opposite of what all these religionists have been telling all of the Protestants, and the Catholics telling their people that. Yes.
“…And cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways…” (Eze. 36:27-31).
Now this also shows a progression in repentance, doesn’t it. This shows exactly what the New Testament is talking about. God leads us to repentance so that we come to the point of baptism. We receive the Holy Spirit out of baptism through the laying on of hands, then we begin keeping the commandments of God, and then we start struggling against our human nature and what do we really do? This shows a progressive repentance as we understand the depths of carnal nature. Right here, you shall “…remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations” (vs. 31). And so they will come to deep repentance.
Now let’s take this as a lesson for us. Can we apply this to us? Can we come to a deeper repentance by understanding how great God is and what God has done to save us in this present evil world. And to give us the great hope that He’s given to give us this what we’re talking about here to really look forward to, to helping save Israel and helping save the whole world. This is fantastic, brethren.
Verse 32, “Not for your sakes do I this, saith the LORD GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.” And they will. So we will help preach this message of repentance to them, and we will help lead them to repentance. “Thus saith the LORD GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes [waste places] shall be builded” (vs. 32-33). And it’s going to be something. They’re going to go and rebuild the cities this way, this time the right way. They are going to undo all the things that they have done physically and it’s going to be rebuilt according to the plan and the purpose of God.
“And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places…” Now you see how it always talks about the heathen after Israel is saved first. “…That I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it” (vs. 34-36). This is His purpose. Remember when we started out that the thought of the LORD is going to be done. And He says that He will do it.
“Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts: so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD” (vs. 37-38). So that’s quite a thing. So they shall know. They don’t know now but they will know then. And we’re going to help teach them, and they are going to know.
Now let’s come over here to Ezekiel 37:23. “Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be My people, and I will be their God. And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd [Who will then be Christ]; they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them [which then means all the commandments of God and the holy days of God]. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them [that is this new covenant we read about in Jeremiah 31]; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: ye, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Now notice again verse 28, “And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore” (Eze. 37:23-28). Now what about the rest of the nations? Notice Israel first, before anything is done, is going to be an example to what God is going to do to the rest of the world.
All right, let’s come to Isaiah 2:1 and let’s see what God is going to do to the rest of the nations. We’ll see what’s going to happen here. “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days…” We’ve been reading about it. The beginning of the millennium is part of the last days also because it overlaps. “…That the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains [mountains means kingdoms or governments], and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” So now He’s going to start dealing with all the nations. “And many people [now not all, starts out with many] shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:1-3).
Now notice verse 4. Here is how He’s going to begin dealing with the nations. “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people…” Because He’s going to let the nations think that after the physical things of the earth have been settled down, the sea is more normal and natural, even though their cities and everything have been destroyed and their land has been upset with earthquakes and things, there will be people of the nations who will begin to recover themselves and begin to live in their cities again. They will have heard that God is there with Israel in Jerusalem, but a lot of them won’t believe that it’s really God. Because you see, all the nations armies gather together was not every army that they had, as we will see a little later on. They fought Christ Who came from outer space. And even though they hear that it’s going to be the Lord Who’s reigning. They won’t understand that it’s truly God. They will think that it is some foreign alien coming from outer space. So they’re going to begin viewing this in a carnal way. That is why He has to “…judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people…” Now we’ll see what this rebuke is going to be. And in some cases it’s going to be really severe. “…And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
Now right there at the headquarters of the United Nations, the anti-christ’s headquarters, they have a statue with this quotation, which was given to the United Nations by the Soviet Union, of all people, and quoting the scripture here saying that the United Nations is going to fulfill them. No, the United Nations will not. Only Christ will fulfill it. He won’t give His honor and glory to any other.
Now let’s see right at the beginning of the millennium how God is going to deal with the people. Let’s come here to Zechariah 14. This is very instructive. How is He going to rebuke them? What is He going to do? How is He going to get their attention? Now remember He’s giving them a space of time to see what’s happening with Israel. They can send their representatives down there to Israel and to Jerusalem and to see what’s happening. They can carry the word of God back to their country. They can be willing, they can be cooperative, they can have an opportunity for repentance on their own. But not all nations are going to do that. He’s going to have to rebuke some, see. Many nations will come but not all. Some He’s going to have to rebuke and it says “many nations”. So it’s going to be quite a thing. All nations are not going to lay down their weapons immediately. And all are not going to submit to Christ immediately. There’s more work yet to be done.
Let’s see what happens here. Let’s begin right here in verse 16. “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles” (Zech. 14:16). And this is when they’re going to have an opportunity to see what God has done with Israel. This is going to give them an opportunity to see whether they want to submit to the kingdom of God or not. God is going to give them a choice before He imposes His will. He’s going to let them have voluntary repentance and voluntary compliance.
Now let’s see what happens if they don’t. Verse 17, “And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the KING, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” Now this means obviously you can’t have every person in the world come to Jerusalem. It’s not talking about that. But there will be representatives. There will be the elders of these nations. There will be whoever are the recognized leaders at that time. They will come up. Now if they don’t come up there’s not going to be any rain. So that’s how He’s going to begin rebuking them. First of all, no rain.
“And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles” (vs. 18). First He cuts off the rain and then there will be the plague. Well, God has always dealt with plagues, hasn’t He? Many different kinds of plagues. You can read about them. He can send plagues of locust. He can send plagues of rain. He can send plagues of wind. He can send plagues of hail. He can send sickness and disease so that they will get the point when they’re suffering, then perhaps maybe then they will repent. Verse 19 says, “This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.” Well you know, isn’t that interesting, one of the first things that God is going to do is enforce the Feast of Tabernacles, which then is a beginning of fulfilling it for them.
Now let’s see what God is going to do to the nations that don’t come up. Let’s see what’s going to happen. Let’s come back here to Ezekiel 38 and let’s see what’s going to happen to Gog and Magog, because when we get back to Revelation 20 at the end of the feast it talks about Gog and Magog, but it’s referring to this that happened before at the beginning of the millennium. Then there’s something else that will also take place at the end of the millennium when the thousand years are finished, and we will cover that on day seven and day eight.
Now let’s begin here in Ezekiel 38:1. “And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him…” Now that’s all the area of Russia and all of the area going clear over to Siberia. That also includes China. That also includes Japan. That includes all those nations, and all the other nations that are listed here with it, so it’s everything going north and east of Jerusalem. “…And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords…” (Ezek. 38:1-4). So during this space of time, whatever time it is that God is working with Israel…now we’ve heard it said in the past perhaps 3 ½ years. So if that is true, whatever time it will be it will be a protracted time because they’re able then to rebuild their armies.
And it says the other nations that will be with them, “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya [but that actually means Phut, which is part of northern India] with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them” (vs. 5-7).
Now verse 8, here begins the time setting for us to understand that this takes place after Israel has been saved at the beginning of the millennium. “After many days thou shalt be visited…” Now, “after many days” in some cases can refer to a period of about 3 ½ years. “…Thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword [that’s Israel - this case the land of Israel in what we call Palestine today], and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.” Now this is also going to convince Israel that God is for them, God will fight with them. They are not to fear. They’ve been redeemed.
“Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm…” Cause they’ll probably get the reports back saying, “Look, now we can go up there. These cities don’t have any fortifications. They don’t even have an army. We could just go up here and we can take it. And look at all that is there. And we need to replenish our lands, and we need to restock ourselves. It’s been pretty rough and tough going since that great battle where the foreign alien came in and destroyed a good portion of our armies and set up his government over there in Jerusalem. Now look at that. We can go and we can get it. It’s just for the taking.” You know, just exactly like God did with Pharaoh. He hardened his heart and then God hardened his heart. Same thing here. God is going to put hooks in their jaws and bring them forth, because God’s judgment is going to be upon them. And these people then will be the ones who are rebuked, and He then is going to make them beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks, or the other way around. Swords into pruning hooks and spears into plowshares.
Now notice, “…thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest…”, because the millennium has begun. Israel has been saved. “…That dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations [see, that’s after the millennium begins], which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (vs. 9-13). Cause they will see all that there. They won’t be able to resist. Now why is God saying that He is going to cause this to happen? This is not something God is allowing. Lot’s of times we say God allows this, and God allows that, and God allows the other thing. Well maybe He does, but in this case God is causing this to be.
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?” Oh, yes they’re going to know. “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: and thou shalt come up against My people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me…” This is the whole purpose. Now the whole world is going to know. All the nations. Now God is going to deal with all the nations, you see. “…That the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by My servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?” (vs. 14-17).
“And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that My fury shall come up in My face. For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the filled, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, 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 throughout all My mountains…” (vs. 18-21). Now Israel’s going to remain safe. But here now with this battle all the nations of the world, all the heathen of the world are going to be affected by this. This is going to be a tremendous final battle to establish then the kingdom of God over all the earth.
Now notice, “And I will call for a sword against him throughout all My mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.” Just like we saw last night how that God delivered. He’s going to deliver Israel again. “I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD” (vs. 21-23). Now that’s how God is going to establish His reign and rule on the earth, and He’s going to finalize it through the destruction of Gog and Magog. Then they will be willing. They they’ll destroy their idols. They they’ll get rid of all of these things. It’s going to be something.
Ok, now let’s come over here to chapter 39 and let’s begin… Chapter 39 reiterates all about the war that’s going to happen there. There’s going to be a mighty war. Now verse 6, “And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles:…” So it’s going to go clear out to all the islands, even to all those countries. Now the isles, perhaps maybe that could refer to even Japan or Indonesia, or some of those because they’re all island nations. “…And they shall know that I am the LORD.” So God is really going to make it known, isn’t He? “So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel…” (Ezek. 39:6-7). So even Israel is going to be even more convinced that yes, this is God. God fought for us. God saved us. God did this. Boy, that’s something. I tell ya, I get all excited when I’m reading about this.
Ok, “…and I will not let them pollute My holy name anymore: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” There it is again, “the heathen shall know.” They don’t know today. But after this battle they’re going to know. They didn’t learn the lesson at the battle of Armageddon. This battle they’re going to learn it. “Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:” So this brings us quite a ways into the millennium, doesn’t it? Yes. Seven years. “So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD” (vs. 7-10).
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel…” There’s going to be a monument, a memorial there. And all the nations that come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles from the east and the north during the millennium, they are going to pass by this place. And it’s going to be an everlasting memorial about how God established His authority in all the heathen lands. Quite a thing, isn’t it? Yes. Let’s read it here. “…The valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleans the land.” So it’s seven months just to get rid of bodies, and it’s going to be seven years that they’re burning all the implements there. “Yea, all the people of they land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD” (vs. 11-13). So this is going to be something. God is going to make it known, this is how He’s going to rebuke the nations far off. And it’s going to be some rebuke. Then the millennium can be established. Then there will be repentance. Then there will be cooperation. But God is going to first give them a space of time to see if they want to do this voluntarily. Now if they don’t want to do it voluntarily then God is going to deal with them and His wrath is going to come, and He’s going to rebuke them.
Now let’s come back here Isaiah 11. Now then the millennium gets going full swing. So you might say this is a transition period from the time that God begins regathering Israel to save Israel, establishes them in their lands, and then there in the are of Jerusalem there are going to be a lot of them all there too. And then Gog and Magog come down. The battle takes place and now the kingdom of God is going to be established in full force around the whole world.
Now let’s begin here in Isaiah 11:1. “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears: But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked” (Isa. 11:1-4). Now we just saw how He’s going to do that in Ezekiel 38 and 39.
Now let’s continue on here in verse 5. “And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.” And then the whole nature of the animal world will change. And this then is the ushering in of the beautiful times, the wonderful time, the great times. This is what we’re all looking forward to. This is what the world is looking forward to. And we brethren will be there as kings and priests and teachers and rulers and governors, and we will help and we will teach, and we will cause the people to really know about God. That’s why it’s imperative that we understand God now. That we, with the Spirit of God, let the mind of Christ be in us. That we know God, that we love God, that we serve Him with all of our hearts, and mind, and being. Then we’re going to have this time.
Notice what’s going to happen. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid [before that’s what they fed on]; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them” (vs. 6). No more plastic toys. [Laughter] That doesn’t mean that they won’t have some toys made out of physical things. But I tell you what, you’re not going to want very many toys if you’re a child and you’ve got your own pet lion. And you’ve got your little baby cub there, and you can lead them. And it’s a tremendous thing that’s going to happen. I mean think of it. Just think of the relationship that they are going to learn about life, and about God, and about father and mother, and about everything that way. It’s going to be tremendous.
Now notice, “And the cow and the bear shall feed [they’ll feed together]; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Now I can’t imagine a lion eating grass and then lying down and chewing it’s cud. I don’t know if it’s going to chew it’s cud or not, but you know, it’s literally be something to see that take place. The whole world is going to be changed. All violence is going to be removed. “And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp…”, where as the suckling child would be bitten and killed and eaten by the asp. So this shows a complete reversal of all the penalty that was brought upon man because of the sins of Adam and Eve. “…And the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (vs. 7-8). That is a tremendous thing brethren, but notice it takes a period of time before that will happen.
Now let’s come here to Psalm 93, and again let’s read this Psalm where it is “the LORD reigns”. Great and marvelous and wonderful things are going to take place. “The LORD reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself: the world also is established…” Now it’s all established under the sovereign reign of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God with all the saints fully in charge of everything now. “…That it cannot be [re]moved.” It’s not going to be moved at all. “Thy [kingdom] throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh Thine house, O LORD, for ever” (Psa. 93:1-5). So there it is established.
Now let’s come to Psalm 99. “The LORD reigneth…” Now there are several Psalms through here that talk about the Lord reigns. “…Let the people tremble: He sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people.” Now He’s got it all established. “Let them praise Thy great and [awesome] terrible name; for it is holy. The king’s strength also loveth judgment; Thou dost establish equity, Thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.” And also in all the rest of the world. And we’re the ones who are going to administer it. “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy” (Psa. 99:1-5).
Now then, what do we have here, verse 6? “Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name; they called upon the LORD, and He answered them.” So they will be resurrected. I wonder what they’re jobs are going to be? I’m sure that Moses is going to have a tremendous job, as well as Aaron and Samuel. “He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept His testimonies, and the ordinance that He gave them.” And that also has to do with us concerning eternal life. “Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, though Thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy” (vs. 6-9).
Now, Psalm 100. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.” Every land, every nation, every country, every kingdom. “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing” (Psa. 100:1-2). Which will happen every Sabbath. And of course everything’s going to be restored so then there will be every Sabbath, and then there will be the proper keeping of the new moons at that time, and every feast day, as we find there in Isaiah 66:23. And they’re going to come before God with joyfulness and singing. And I tell you what, just imagine what kind of singing that is going to be. Imagine the choirs that will be. We’ll have not only the choirs of the people who will do that, but there will be choirs of the saints of God, those who are serving God. There’ll also be the choirs of angels. Boy I tell you what, we’re going to have singing like never before.
“Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and now we ourselves…” They’re all going to learn. It’s not for the self. It’s not for the self-esteem that we have today. “…We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (vs. 3-5). All down through the millennium.
So brethren, this is going to be quite a time. And God is going to establish His power. He’s going to be known in all the nations. He’s going to solidify His power by destroying all the enemies and bringing the rest of the people then to repentance and into the kingdom of God, and then we rule over them as Christ exerts the government of God on the earth. So that’s how the millennium is going to begin.
