Feast of Tabernacles 2001 – Welcome

Welcome to The Feast of Tabernacles

Fred Coulter - October 1, 2001

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And greetings, everyone. Welcome to the Feast of Tabernacles, the year 2001. And of course as you know this is the great feast of God picturing the culmination of God’s plan. And as it ends with the Last Great Day then we have the fullness of the understanding of the plan of God. And it’s a marvelous and magnificent thing that God is doing, and that we are going to have the opportunity to participate in bringing peace to this world. And that is going to be the greatest gift that we are ever able to bring the world. But God is going to let the world first see if they can do it their way in a grand and great and marvelous globalized civilization, to bring all nations together, to have one ruling united nation, one world government, and one world religion. And so it is going to be colossal what’s going to happen.

But as it happens, the world is going to be actually unraveling. Now we know from Matthew 24 what’s going to happen. Let’s go to Matthew 24 and let’s look at that. Let’s read that because it’s very important for us to understand. And it’s very important for us to comprehend that these things come in cycles and then they build up, and they build up, and they build up until we come to the very end.

Now let’s begin in Matthew 24:3, because this is what the disciples wanted to know. Remember just before Jesus ascended into heaven, as recorded in Acts 1, they said, “Lord, will You now at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?” And Jesus said to them, “It’s not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has put into His own authority. But you are to go to Jerusalem and wait until you are indued with power and then be witness unto Me unto the utter ends of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8, paraphrased). Now right here in Matthew 24 this leads in to the same thing. The disciples wanted to know. And we’re going to see that the very things that are leading up to the end, not only are taking place now, but they’re going to continue to take place and they are going to intensify. So let’s read it in verse 3.

“And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?” (Matt. 24:3). Number 1, when is it going to happen? And every one wants to know when it’s going to happen. And somehow as human beings, if we can know exactly when it is, then in our minds we’ll kind of have it all figured out so we’ll be ready when the time comes. But, you see, we won’t be able to know. How many times have we thought we were close? How many times have we thought that we could see it taking place? How many times have we been just to the brink and somehow something changes? So that’s why Jesus said, “When you see all these things taking place, know that the end is near.” So we have to see all of these things as they’re taking place before the end will come. And it’s going to be so much more different than we have anticipated. And I think that the world is going to grow to a far greater height of power and sophistication and things that are going to take place.

Like I brought out on the Feast of Trumpets that there actually will probably be space war. And we’re nowhere near ready for that yet. But let’s none of us say, “Oh well, it’s going to be way off in the future.” Because if we do that and let down, then we’re going to get ourselves in trouble with God. So we always need to be zealous and on top of everything.

So when shall these things be? Number 1. Number 2, “What shall be the sign of your coming?” Now we covered that on the Feast of Trumpets, the sign of the coming. Also Pentecost and Trumpets. “…And of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.” And somehow that has gotten lost on so many people. And they have been deceived by false doctrine, by false ministers. Some of them have even gone right back into Catholicism. And yet the very first warning is: You watch out. You take heed. You be careful. You be on guard that no one deceive you. “For many shall come in My name, saying, I am [the] Christ; and shall deceive many” (vs. 3-5). And we know just because a person says, “Hey, I’m a Christian”, doesn’t make them one. As we’ve seen, unless they have the Spirit of Christ they are none of His.

“And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars…” And this has been ongoing century after century after century. And you could call the 20^th century, which we just finished, there was nearly 100 years war, when you count all the wars that have taken place in the 20^th century. And yet, because we live in the United States of America, and because we haven’t had war on our own land, our own soil since the Civil War, somehow war, except for those who go off to a foreign country to fight it, is just very remote. And yet there have been probably 500 million people killed in this last 100 years. Not just counting soldiers, but civilians. Over 100 million in China alone. 120 million from the time of the inception of the Soviet Union until now. Millions in Africa, millions in Southeast Asia. So it has been something. Millions have died.

“…Be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in [different] divers places” (vs. 6-7). And these things just seem to keep happening, don’t they? And every time an earthquake takes place we say, “Oh, we’re getting closer to the end.” Or a famine takes place, we say, “Oh, we’re getting closer to the end.” Or if we have pestilence such as AIDS or Ebola, those things of which there really is no cure, we say we’re getting closer to the end. And then man comes along and says, “Whoop. I’ve got a new formula. We’ll fix this.” And so somehow it’s pushed back. But it’s still going to happen.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you…” And that is when you’re really going to know in the end-time where everything lies at that particular point. “…And ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake” (vs. 8-9). Now, how is it that at the end-time we’re going to be hated of all nations for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ? Well we’ll just have to see how that’s going to be. So this tells us there’s a whole lot more to happen. A whole lot more to take place.

“Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another…” And yes, it’s set up right now for the spy system. Children spying on their parents, and parents spying on their children. And neighbor on neighbor, and so forth. It’s all set up. You can even be turned in for a crime by an informant and you can never meet the informant in court. You can never meet your accuser. So we’re getting close to it now. “…And shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound [that is, grow and increase and multiply], the love of many shall wax cold” (vs. 10-12). Then it talks about we’re going to have to endure.

But let’s look and see what the world is like today. Let’s take a look. Let’s come back to Isaiah 59, because we’re going to have to repair the world. We’re going to have to bring the world truth. We are going to have to understand where they went wrong and why they went wrong so when it comes time for us to rule and reign, as we’ll see that’s the whole purpose of the Feast of Tabernacles, that we will know how to do it rightly and correctly with God’s way.

Here, Isaiah 59:1-2. Now you see the world thinks that God has gone way off someplace. But God hasn’t gone way off someplace. “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God…” And that’s exactly what we read there because iniquity shall increase, or multiply, the love of many shall grow cold. And it’s going to lead to quite a society. It’s going to lead 1) to personal problems, 2) to national problems, and international problems.

Hold your place here and come to Hosea 4, and let’s see how it is going to be happening coming in on a personal level, and why it’s going to happen, and what the result is going to be, and what the society is going to be like. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 1. “Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth…” Now let’s understand something. I want you to stop and think for a minute. Outside of the truth that you get from the scriptures, is not, when you look around and see, the whole world living in lies? Yes. Lies everywhere. In personal lives, in schools, in business, in government, in religion. Everyone lives a lie. Everything that they watch in the way of entertainment is a make believe. So they’re living a lie. And this has a tremendous effect upon the way that people are. “…There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”

“By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.” And that’s what we see in the world today. Maybe not necessarily in your community today, but in somebody’s community somewhere it happened. Just yesterday there was a man in Japan… Now they don’t allow guns in Japan. But he went on to the school, and what did he do? He stabbed and killed 15 children. Just a small example of some of the things that are taking place. But you look at the wars that have taken place, and all of the blood that has been shed. That’s amazing. And then you look at the crime that we have. Shootings, killings, lootings, kidnappings, rape, all of those things. “Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for Thy people are as they that strive with the priest. Therefore shalt thou fall in the day…” (vs. 2-5). Now God talks about the day that Israel is going to fall. And let me just tell you that it is being set up for the biggest fall. The United States and Britain are being set up for the biggest fall that is ever going to be recorded in the history of the world, and all of it because they turned their back on God.

Now verse 6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” Oh, we’ve got lots of knowledge on technical things, don’t we? But they don’t have any knowledge of God. “…Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” So there it’s going to be on a personal level. That’s what we’re going to witness.

Now let’s come back to Isaiah 59 and let’s see what we’re going to see on a national level. And I’m going to read you what you might say the political newspaper of today. Now let’s read it beginning in verse 3. “For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth…” There’s no truth. There’s no real justice. Look what has happened with the Timothy McVey thing. Granted, he was probably guilty, but the main man who was his handler, no one’s going to find out where he is. And there was an FBI informant that said, yes there was a man with him. And yes it was an FBI man. They refuse to let her testify. See, there’s no truth. You can’t get justice in court. No way.

“…Nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity [and that’s what happens], and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web…” All the alliances, all of the governmental bills that we have, that’s exactly what it is. Just like walking into so many traps. “…He that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings…” (vs. 3-8). And it says they have made them crooked paths.

Now let me read you something here that’s very interesting. And I think this will be very shocking. This will show you why that if you’re looking to any political leader to solve the problems, to bring peace, it’s not going to happen. He may reduce a little bit of this, or he may help a little of that, but that’s like Ezekiel 13 says, you’re daubing with untempered mortar.

Now let me read you this. Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 500 employees, and has the following statistics:

• 29 have been accused of spousal abuse.
• 7 have been arrested for fraud.
• 19 have been accused of writing bad checks.
• 117 have directly or indirectly been bankrupt in at least two businesses.
• 3 have done time for assault.
• 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit.
• 14 have been arrested on drug related charges.
• 8 have been arrested for shoplifting.
• 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits.
• 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the past year.

Can you guess which organization this is? You think about it. Which organization do you think it is. The answer: It’s the 535 members of the U.S. Congress. The same group that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line. Now you know why. Now you understand why.

Here, let’s look at something. This is very important for us to realize. Let’s come to Proverbs 29:2. Now you see it really, really doesn’t matter politically. You’re not going to change anything. It doesn’t matter who you vote for. And you stop and think, you stop and think. How can these men possibly speak truth, or work truth, or understand righteousness? They cannot do it. Now you see, we have been called to replace them. Because it’s no different in any other government in the world than what I just read to you here. Now hold your place here in Proverbs 29. We’ll come back to that, but let’s go to Daniel 4, and let’s see how absolutely true that this is, so that you understand that all of those who are in government today are flunking out. They are disqualifying themselves, and Christ is looking to us to replace them. You need to understand that. God has called us to a great responsibility. So I don’t want you to feel frustrated with what’s happening in the world, but I want you to be inspired that God has called you to help solve the problem. And to do it rightly, and to do it righteously, and to do it with judgment and knowledge, and understanding, and love, and mercy. Because this world has been given over to the lowest kind of human beings, because Satan is the one who puts them on their seat of authority, whether it’s a throne or seat of authority, whatever it is.

Now you know the story about Nebuchadnezzar, how that he got all lifted up and he thought he was really something. Then he had this vision and he called in Daniel to tell him what the vision was. And here is the sum of what took place. Talking about Nebuchadnezzar, beginning in verse 16. “Let his heart be changed…” Now this is going to happen to the Beast at the end-time. There’s going to come a time when it’s going to be changed. It’s going to come on and look righteous and good and to solve all the political problems of the world and to bring in this one world government, and peace and security and happiness and righteousness, and all of this sort of thing, and then he’s going to receive the deadly wound and he’s going to be changed. “Let his heart be changed…and let a beast’s heart be given unto him…” Why do you think he’s called the Beast? I mean it’s very simple. “…And let seven times pass over him. This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Dan 4:16-17).

It doesn’t say that there are any exceptions, does it? Now once in a while Israel had a righteous king. Once in a while we may get someone who on the surface is a little more decent than others, but then you have to watch the politics, to watch what happens.

Now let’s come back to Proverbs 29. Let’s remember we have been called to replace it. We are right now being trained by Christ, through His word, with His Spirit in us on how to have all of the basic things necessary to be rulers in the Millennium and the Kingdom of God. And the most important quality that you need is the righteous character of Jesus Christ, because the government is going to rest upon His shoulders and we are going to be part of that government.

Now Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice…” Now this is what we are going to bring to the world - the righteousness of God, the truth of God, the love of God. And God is going to let the world be literally destroyed. They’re going to be billions of dead people. It is going to be such a ramshackle, upside-down, topsy-turvy mess that it’s going to be a real challenge when Christ says, “This is your city”, or “These are your cities”, or “You’re over here. You’re the priest over here. You are the ruler over here. Now go do the job.” Yes, we’ll have instructions but the most important thing is that character, that we are righteous because of Christ. That’s why when we are changed from flesh to Spirit then we will be righteous forever. Now notice the second half of this verse. “…But when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” And that’s what we have to save the world from when Christ returns.

Now let’s understand something here really important concerning what God is going to do. Let’s come to Matthew 19:23. Now we see these promises. Now these are the promises. Now this is why God does not want us involved in the world. If you get involved in the world in politics please understand you’re going to be taken down one way or another. Now, is it wrong to vote? No, it’s not wrong to vote, but did your vote really ever change anything? So you think about it. Now let’s come back here to Matthew 19:23. God has called us to serve Him and serve Him alone.

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples…”, after the rich man was not able to sell all of his riches and follow Christ. Now you think about that. We are called to sell all that we have. That means we give it all up. God gives back to us sometimes even greater than what we had. But we have to count all the things in the world as nothing. They are temporary, they are fine, they’re good, we can use them. That’s why we have the Feast of Tabernacles because it shows that we are dwelling on this earth in a temporary way. It shows that our life is physical and temporary and so therefore we have to be willing, if we want eternal life, to set all of that aside. Now you can’t put it away, you can’t sell all your riches, if you don’t have riches can you? No. And most of us don’t so that’s why we have nothing to sell, but you have to give your whole life to Christ and that’s the whole lesson of this with the rich man.

So Jesus said to His disciples, “…Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” It doesn’t say he can’t enter into it. But it says it’s going to be difficult. “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:23-26). So you have to understand that. You may not think that you will make a very good ruler, or a very good king, or a very good priest. But let me tell you something. You’re not going to do it in the flesh. You’re going to do it with a new mind, a new body, and you’re going to do it with the authority of Jesus Christ. So that will be the possibility.

“Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?” (vs. 27). Now you think about it. Christ asked you to leave everything. That’s the whole part of the covenant that we have with Him with baptism. “If any man come to me”, Jesus said, “and hates not his father and mother, and brother and sister, and wives and children, and lands and yea his own life. And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27, paraphrased). So you see He’s asked us to leave everything. He’s asked us to count everything in this world as nothing and worthless and dung. But He’s given us great hope.

Now notice what He told the apostles. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Now they are the ones who are going to do it. “And every one [now this is all the rest of us] that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt. 19:28-29). Now that’s a promise. Those who are going to be in the first resurrection are going to be the elite of God forever. You think about that. Maybe that’s hard for us to grasp but that’s what He said. He also said here verse 30, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”

Now to rule and reign with Christ is going to be quite a wonderful and magnificent thing. Since we’re here in the book of Matthew, let’s come to Matthew 25 and let’s see that there are certain things that we need to do. We have to exercise, we have to, as in this parable of the pounds, we have to increase. God will do all the rest. But notice it, verse 14. “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.” Now that’s why we have nothing we didn’t receive. Always understand that. Everything physical, everything spiritual, all your understanding, all the truth of God, the Bible which God has given - we have nothing we didn’t receive. So He’s given us His goods.

“And unto one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money” (vs. 15-18). And so this shows that he wasn’t willing to get out and work.

“After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” So there’s going to be the day of reckoning for us too. “And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.” Notice, he said unto him, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” Now that’s what we want to hear. We need to do well, and God is going to bless us and reward us and what He is going to give is going to be fantastic. He said a hundredfold, didn’t He? Yes. “…I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (vs. 19-23).

Then you know what happened to the one who took and buried it, see. He never loved God. He had a bad attitude toward God. He said, “Boy, you know, I know you are harsh and hard and mean. You’re a slave driver. You’re a taskmaster so I was afraid and I went and hid it in the earth, and here it is.” Notice what the lord said in verse 26. “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed…” See, he didn’t have faith that God would bless him in doing it. Yes, God gives us impossible tasks to do, but as we saw, with God all things are possible. To grow and change and develop the character of Christ and the mind of Christ is what is going to bring peace to this world when we reign as kings and priests. So then you know what happened. He took the one talent from him and gave it to the one who had ten, because the one that had ten would do something with it.

Now let’s come to Psalm 122 and let’s see where it again back here in the book of Psalms talks about the same thing, talks about the same time. I want you to picture this from the point of view of entering into the Kingdom of God. Verse 1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go [up] into the house of the LORD.” That’s where we’re going to be, isn’t it? “Our feet shall stand within Thy gates, O Jerusalem.” There will be a Jerusalem on earth, and then there’s going to be heavenly Jerusalem come at the end of the Millennium. “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD. For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David” (Psa. 122:1-5). And David is going to rule over Israel, and the twelve apostles are going to rule over each one of the tribes. So there we have it right there.

Let’s come to the book of Revelation and see some very important things. As we’re going there let’s stop back at 2 Timothy 2, and then we will go and survey a few verses in the book of Revelation to see the tremendous calling that God has given us. Now there may be some things that we’ll have to do. There may be some suffering that we will have to go through, and that is guaranteed. That’s why we receive the glory. Paul said, “I count the suffering of this present time as nothing compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18, paraphrased).

Now here in 2 Timothy 2 we find this. Let’s begin in verse 10. Now here’s the apostle Paul writing to Timothy and setting the example. “Therefore I endure all things…”, whether it’s prison or nakedness, or cold, or whatever. You read what Paul went through. “…For the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation…” Now everyone who’s an elder or a teacher, hear and listen carefully. Whatever we are to do is so that the brethren receive salvation. If they are saved, we’ll be saved. That’s a guarantee. “…Which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Forever and ever. “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him…” Of course then it says, “…if we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Tim. 2:10-12). Now we’re going to reign with Christ.

Now let’s go to the book of Revelation and see a few verses which tell us about this reigning and ruling. And it’s going to be with a lot of authority. And it’s going to be with a lot of power. And it’s going to be something that is going to just be the greatest blessing that has ever happened to this earth. And after all the things that all the civilizations and all people have gone through, and then we come to the end-time with the great tribulation and the great wars that take place at the end. And then we’re sent out to do our job.

Now notice Revelation 2:26. “And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end…” Now notices what it says - “the one who overcomes”, so we have to keep overcoming and keeping His works unto the end. Ties right in with Matthew 24 that we read, he that endures to the end the same shall be saved. “…To him will I give power over the nations…”, now that’s authority. Authority to rule. “…And he shall rule them with a rod of iron…” Therefore the people are going to submit. And therefore they’re going to want to be converted. But there isn’t going to be any wickedness at all. When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice. “…As the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.” So whatever the authority is going to be necessary to exercise, we’ll be able to do so. And we will have the character because we will have the permanent mind of Christ to do so, with the love of God and the power of God, and the authority of God to do it. This is what God has called you to. This is why we are here.

Now let’s come to Revelation 5:9. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10). Now I don’t know about you but every time I read that, that makes me really excited. Especially when I look out and see how the world is today and understand what has been happening down through time and the history of things that have taken place, and understand the true history of it, and understand the powers behind it, and know that Satan the devil is the one who has done all of these things. And we are going to reign on the earth. Not going to be in heaven.

Let’s come to chapter 3, verse 21. We’re going to judge. Those who are priests are going to be judges. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” For what purpose? To judge. To rule. To serve.

Now finally let’s come to Revelation 20, and here’s the keynote of every Feast of Tabernacles. And God wants us to go into this every time when we come to the Feast of Tabernacles, what are we to preach on? What are we to examine in the scriptures and know? We are to understand God’s plan that Christ is returning, that He is going to set up a millennial reign for a thousand years and we are going to be partakers of it to rule and reign with Him.

Now notice Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones…” And everyone is going to have a throne of some kind. “…And they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them…” No one else, not left to other people this time. “…And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Tremendous blessing to be there to rule and reign with Christ.

Now verse 5, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” We’ll talk about that when we get to day 7 and 8. “This is the first resurrection.” And the first resurrection is the greatest resurrection. And this is resurrection to be with Christ, to be with God the Father, to rule and reign forever. Notice, “Blessed and holy…”, that’s what we will be, blessed and holy. Think about it. You, I, all the brethren will be blessed and holy. And those are names and qualities that apply to God. “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power…” You’re not ever going to die. “But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” And when that is over, as we will see on the Last Great Day, forever and ever into the ages of eternity.

So brethren, let’s have a wonderful Feast of Tabernacles. Let’s understand even more clearly and more fully the whole plan of God and what an absolutely great blessing it is to keep the feasts of God.