Peace, Peace, and There Is No Peace

So we have wars, we have terror wars, we have famine. Right now there's a terrible famine going on in Ethiopia. Look at the situation in Palestine between the Jews and the Palestinians. It seems as though there is no end to the killing. There is no desire for peace. Yet, they talk peace.

Prime Minister Sharon says, 'I want peace' and Arafat says, 'I want peace.' But Arafat says he won't talk to Sharon, and Sharon says he won't talk to Arafat, so Bush gets in the middle and says, 'We support Israel, and what we ought to do is get a new leader instead of Arafat and then we'll deal with him.' It's an insoluble problem over there.

Then you look here in the United States with everything that they are doing, and what do we have? We have now being acted in America every law that will convert us into a fascist state, just given enough time.

Then you look at all the crime, and all the drugs, and all of the problems that we have in business with all of the lying and cheating, and corruption, and fudging on the books. It certainly is turning everything upside down, and all of those things are certainly showing what the true colors of human nature really is, even to the very highest level!

Then you look at our government, and our government is doing everything to go against us rather than to help us. They're doing everything they can to enslave us, rather than give us freedom and understanding.

Psa. 35—here's a very interesting verse, because when they say they want peace, war is in their hearts! It's an amazing thing. They all say they want peace but there is no way to find peace. IF they do have peace, finally get it, THEN it all falls apart just as quickly as it begins.

Psalm 35:20: "For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful things against those who are quiet in the land."

All of these measures, and all of these things are going to come down, and it's just going to turn the whole world upside down. Of course, Jesus prophesied all of these things and if we would go to Matt, 24 we could read the headlines of the world paper right there that Jesus prophesied nearly 2,000 years ago. Never at a time before have we had it when they are saying, 'Peace, peace, and there is no peace.' Ezek. 13 really brings that out.

Ezekiel 13:1: "And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy. And say to those who prophesy out of their own hearts, "Hear the Word of the LORD; thus says the Lord GOD, 'Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!" (vs 1-3).

Article: Religious Leaders Unite for Peace from the Vatican, Wed., June 20, 2002.

Here's a statement they released prepared by the representatives of the worlds great religions during a conference in Rome last week.

The conference, sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, was organized as a follow-up effort for participants in the World Peace Day ceremonies at Assisi in January of this year. Cardinal Francis Arinzi, president of the Pontifical Council, chaired the meeting. Participants included leading figures from the Buddhists, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh faiths, as well as Catholic leaders, and Christians represented in the World Council of Churches.

And here's their joint statement:

Religious leaders affirm their confidence that the religions can contribute both to the prevention and the resolution of conflicts. They agreed in principle to continue their joint efforts to find ways in which religious leaders can work for peace, both locally and globally.

So, everybody's trying for peace. Everybody wants peace, but no one knows how to seek peace! Whenever they seek peace, war follows. Let's see what God says of these prophets:

Verse 6: "'They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, "The LORD says."… [this is God's will] …And the LORD has not sent them; but they hoped to confirm their word…. [in other words, confirm the word that they bring peace] …Did you not see a vain vision, and speak a lying divination? When you say, "The LORD says"; although I have not spoken.' Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD…" (vs 6-8).

Let's understand something very important here; there's always a principle in motion, which is this: God's way always works automatically. That is, if you love God and obey Him, blessings follow, understandings come, and IF you have Christ in you, THEN the peace of Christ will rule in your mind.

Those who don't, those who go their own way, it still automatically comes upon them, because

• God is going to hold them accountable
• God is going to judge them
• God is going to bring upon them their own devices

It always works that way!

Verse 8: "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD… [because you've said this, now I'm going to tell you something]: …'Because you have spoken vanity and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,' says the Lord GOD."

Isn't that always the way it is, that people bring God into something where God is not even involved?

Verse 9: "And My hand shall be against the prophets who see vanity and who divine a lie. They shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD."

Out of it all they're going to finally learn that God is God.

Verse 10: "Because, even because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace,' and there was no peace… [here's an interesting description of the work that they're doing]: …and when anyone builds a weak wall they cover it with whitewash."

Have you ever made a wall made out of clay, or a house made out of clay? Well, in some of the desert regions of the world, they can actually make clay bricks, bake them in the sun, build quite substantial buildings, build walls and so forth. Once every so many years they get a rainstorm, and when the rainstorm comes the clay just melts right down again into running clay. So, the buildings collapse, and the walls collapse. This is what it is to daub with 'untempered mortar' (KJV) or to have a plan that goes against the Word of God.

The Psalm says, 'Unless the Lord build the house, the weary builders toil in vain.' Aren't the world's religious leaders, the world's governmental leaders, aren't they all toiling in vain to try to bring peace? Yes, because they're not doing it God's way!

• Where's the call for real repentance?
• Where's the call to return to God?
• Where is the call to ask people to seek the Lord with all their hearts?

The true Lord, not their figment of God. Not their ecumenical God, but the true Lord. Just like in the days of Josiah—IF there were a Josiah today who would bring the people to that point, call them to repentance—God told Josiah:

Because your heart was tender and you were willing, and you desired to obey My laws and commandments, and you caused the people to enter into covenant to do so, therefore the destruction that Jeremiah has prophesied, it's not going to come in your day.

There can even be that today, because God will honor that; God will always honor true, genuine repentance! Here they are working out:

• their own devices
• their own schemes
• their own plans
• their own ways

So God says, 'Because you're using untempered mortar'—which means it's not made with the Truth of God:

Verse 11: "Say to those who cover it with whitewash, that it shall fall; there will be a flooding rain; and you, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind will break forth. And, behold, when the wall has fallen, shall it not be said to you, 'Where is the whitewash with which you have covered it?'" (vs 11-12).

In other words, why did it fail? Well, men just don't understand! They just don't realize!

God is going to have to intervene and do something, and right in the midst of the battles and wars that come after this time of peace that people are going to have a profound event is going to happen. God is going to intervene.

Like we saw on the Feast of Trumpets, God is going to rip open the heavens, and He's going to reveal that He is God! The whole world is going to say that these are aliens from outer space. In fact, that is going to be true, because the true God is alien to them, and God is coming from heaven to the earth. When they say it's aliens from outer space, it's not going to be demons, it's not going to be angels, it's going to be Christ!

Isaiah 64:1: "Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down… [which God is going to do; He is going to come down] …that mountains might quake at Your presence… [just like it was when God stepped on the top of Mt. Sinai] …as when the melting fire burns, the fire causes water to boil, to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things which we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence!" (vs 1-3).

That's going to be quite a thing when Christ does that. Their peace does not work, Christ is going to come, the battle is going to take place, and there will be peace!

Isa. 40—here's a very interesting prophecy. This is actually part of the prophecy leading up to the prophecy of John the Baptist, and the voice of one crying in the wilderness. There's going to come a time when this is going to happen, and it's going to start at Jerusalem and we're going to see God is going to fulfill His promise and save the tents of Judah first. Now if you've ever heard The Messiah by Handle, this is how it begins!

Isaiah 40:1: "'Comfort ye, comfort ye, My people,' says your God."

Think about how much they need peace in Jerusalem. Can you imagine trying to live as a Jew in Palestine today? You won't know from minute-to-minute whether there is going to be a suicide bomber or an attack. It comes at the most unexpected times. They do everything that they can to try and prevent it, but it still happens, over and over again. Just when they say, 'We're going to have peace,' off goes another one. But there's going to come a time when that will be over!

Verse 2: "Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her that her warfare is accomplished…"

What a thing that is going to be for the Jews. Think of all the suffering that they've had down through the centuries. Finally, the decree comes from God: 'Your warfare is accomplished.'

"…that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins" (v 2).

When God does that, He's going to be merciful, and He's going to intervene in a miraculous way and save those poor Jews over there that are just being shot and killed and blown apart today, trying with all their might to try and have some kind of peace. But they claim they represent God, but just like all the rest of the people of the world, they have forgotten God. So, there comes a time when God is going to change that and intervene.

Let's see the prophecy about Jerusalem, and remember that Isa. 40 is going to happen. What a time that's going to be. I know when I hear the tenor sing that in 'The Messiah' that it really chokes me up about every time I hear it, because that's a wonderful thing that's going to happen.

Zechariah 12:2: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people all around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people. All who burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth be gathered together against it" (vs 2-3).

Now we can read in the book of Revelation what's going to happen when Christ returns to the earth, and the war, and everything, all the armies of the world are gathered to battle there at Armageddon, which is just north of Jerusalem.

Verse 7: "The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first…" As we read on Pentecost, of the 144,000 the first 12,000 that are saved are from the tribe of Judah!

"…so that the glory of the house of David… [which is going to be Christ coming to set it up] …and the glory of the people of Jerusalem may not be magnified above Judah. In that day the LORD shall defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And it shall be, he who is feeble among them at that day shall be like David; and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. And it shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (vs 7-9). That is the battle of Armageddon!

Verse 10: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the people of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication…"—true repentance!

Then they are going to understand that Jesus Christ is the LORD, and is the true Messiah.

"…And they shall look upon Me … [Who is Me? Who is speaking? God is!] … Notice what it says. "…Whom they have pierced…" (v 10).

Another proof that Jesus was the LORD God of the Old Testament before He became a human being.

"…and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness over Him, as the bitterness over the firstborn" (v 10)—because they will come to themselves!

This is the only way that peace is going to come:

• Christ has to bring it
• He has to show it
• He has to cause it to happen

Also, at the same time, it's going to happen to the children of Israel! Not just the Jews alone, but the Jews and Israel. Here's what God says of the blessings that will come upon Israel:

Ezekiel 36:25: "And I will sprinkle clean waters upon you, and you shall be clean…." [tie in Heb. 10, that you're sprinkled with pure water] …I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols."

Here's what's going to happen: they are going to be converted. This is going to start out the Millennium, and then we will see how God is going to bring peace to the whole world.

Verse 26: "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh."

• one that will be tender
• one that will be understanding
• one that will be teachable
• one that will be malleable

That's the kind of heart that God is going to give them. That's the kind of heart that God wants us to have:

• willing
• loving
• kind
• understanding

That's what God wants! Then He shows He's going to convert them:

Verse 27: "And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances and do them. And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you 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 grain, and will increase it, and will lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruits of the tree and the increase of the field, so that you shall never again receive the curse of famine among the nations. And you shall remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good…" (vs 27-31).

You know, this is just like the story of the prodigal son. His repentance began when he came to himself. So this is explaining the process of coming to yourself here.

"'…and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. I do not do this for your sake,' says the Lord GOD, 'be it known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.' Thus says the Lord GOD, 'In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. And the wasteland shall be tilled, instead of being desolate before all who pass by. And they shall say, "This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden. And the wasted, desolate and ruined cities now are fenced and inhabited." And the nations that are left all around you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it'"'" (vs 31-36). You know, these are really some tremendous words of God!

When you look out and see the futility of what men have been doing to try and work things their own way. This has really been the story of mankind's way ever since Adam and Eve.

God, we'll work it out our way. God, Your way we'd rather not have. After all, we're intelligent. After all, we have ability. After all, You've given us free choice so we choose to do it our way, and we'll show You that it will work.

But lo, and behold, it's not going to work!

Verse 37: "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'I will yet be sought by the house of Israel to act for them. I will increase them with men like a flock. As a Holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed Feasts…'" (vs 37-38).

Isn't it interesting that the knowledge and the understanding of this is found, not only in the Scripture, but in the Holy Days, and the solemn Feast days, and that's what God says the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day is.

"…so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. And they shall know that I am the LORD" (vs 38).

• He's going to come as King
• He's going to come in power
• He's going to really fulfill all

Zechariah 14, then we'll go to Isaiah 9. This is what the world needs. The world understands one thing. They think they're going to do it their way. They understand that because the way that the nations are, the people are, that they need a world government. Now that's a true statement. So they're going to try and develop their world government. But it isn't going to work!

Christ is going to return and He's going to bring the government, as we will see, and He shall be King over all the earth. And we, as kings and priests working with Christ, and under Him as we have seen, will bring this to the whole world.

Brethren, we have been called to the greatest calling, the greatest work, the most important thing that can be done, but we need to understand that we need to do it God's way in our lives now, so we can do it God's way when Christ returns!

Zechariah 14:9: "And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day there shall be one LORD… [not many] …and His name shall be one."

Now let's see another prophecy of His being King, and the government, because there needs to be a right government. It needs to be a world government, but it needs to be the government, which is going to be run correctly! Not one that is corrupted. Not one that is overbearing and dictatorial. Isa.9 is the prophecy of it. Christ is going to bare the full responsibility of it, and He is going to share that with us so that we can help bring the world the peace that they need.

Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Now let's look at a couple phrases here:

"…The everlasting Father…" When is Jesus going to be a Father? We have God the Father, we have Jesus Christ. We know that God the Father is an everlasting Father, but when will Christ become an everlasting Father? That will happen after the Bride and Christ are married, and through Their rule, and through Their government, many sons and daughters will come into the Kingdom of God and He [Christ] will become an everlasting Father beginning at that time.

There will be God the Father, Who has always been. Then Jesus Christ, Who was part of Elohim and always has been, and He will be a Father. Must much like those of you who have had sons, and now your sons have become fathers. But they weren't fathers until they got married and had children. So likewise it's going to be with Christ.

"…The Prince of Peace"—He's the only one that knows peace. We also know that back in, as we've seen in Heb. 7 that He is called the King of Salem or the King of Peace.

Verse 7: "Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His Kingdom, to order it and to establish it… [How's it going to be here?] …with judgment and with righteousness from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

What we are doing in keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, and learning the Word of God, going over these things again that we have learned in the past, to have them reaffirmed, to have them taught to us again, that we understand and realize that just as sure as God exists, this is going to happen in it's day! No question about it. No doubt about it.

That's something that we really need to be growing in, and that is:

• faith
• belief
• understanding

and have full faith and confidence

• in God
• in His Word
• in His Truth
• in His Plan
• in His Holy Days
• in His Sabbath

and everything like that because those things are actually the substance of our spiritual life so that

• we can live God's way
• we can grow in grace and knowledge
• we can understand the Word of God

All of these things are just going to be magnificent, and we have an opportunity to do so as never before!

Psalm 85:1: "O LORD, You have shown favor to Your land; You have brought back Jacob from exile…. [out of captivity] …You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sins. Selah'" (vs 1-2). Think on it, meditate on it!

What a great and marvelous thing this is going to be, that God is going to do this!

Verse 3: "You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger. Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?…. [no, there's a time it's ending] …Will You not give us life again, so that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the LORD will speak; for He will speak peace to His people, and to His saints, but let them not turn again to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and Truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (vs 3-10).

Now that's a beautiful statement, isn't it? Just think of the kind of atmosphere beginning with:

• the family
• the neighborhood
• the villages
• cities
• nations

where all of this is going to be:

• no more crime
• no more kidnapping
• no more sex abuse
• no more adultery
• no more fornication
• no more thievery
• no more murder

A wonderful and beautiful society, and we have the responsibility of establishing that under Christ.

I don't think there's any greater calling, any greater thing that anyone could think of. Now you stop for a moment and just think of all the people in the world today who are devoting themselves to their various causes, through their various organizations, through their various movements to try and bring about some of these things in the world today, but they can't do it, because they need God!

• they need His peace
• they need His love
• they need His mercy
• they need His righteousness

"…righteousness and peace have kissed each other"; I love that statement!

Verse 11: "Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good, and our land shall yield its increase. Righteousness shall go before Him and shall set us in the way of His steps" (vs 11-13).

What a beautiful picture of what it's going to be like. That's why God has us come together for the Feast of Tabernacles and keep the Feast of Tabernacles! We study these Scriptures, and we go over them, and we really know them, and come to realize and believe that, yes, this is what we are going to do.

You know, when you go through the book of Isaiah, I think perhaps in Isaiah and the Psalms, there are more references to the Kingdom of God and the Millennium than any other books in the Bible. I just wonder what they thought when God gave them the inspiration to write these. Yet, we are blessed to live in the day when we can see, yes, this is going to happen in our lifetime.

The behavior of people affects the environment. You can read Jer. 23 where God says because of crime and adultery the land is desolate! Look what's happened to our land this summer, with all these fires burning hundred of thousands of acres in many states: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California. Yet, at the same time up in North and South Dakota and Minnesota, they've had flooding. All of that is because:

• unless you have righteousness
• unless you have mercy
• unless you have peace

the land cannot respond! After that is brought:

Isaiah 35:1: "The wilderness and the desert shall be glad and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

• How much desert do we have in the world today?
• How about the Sahara?
• How about the Gobi?
• How about the other deserts of the world?
• How about the jungles that are inhabited?

All of those, God is going to change all of that!

Verse 2: "It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD and the majesty of our God. Make the weak hands strong and make the feeble knees sure. Say to those of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, fear not…'" (vs 2-4).

This, brethren, will be our work, and our message. Can you imagine what the people surviving through the Great Tribulation are going to be like?

• you talk about shell-shocked
• you talk about emotions upside down
• you talk about people in fear and trembling, weak and feeble

It's going to be quite a thing! This is our job; there it is, laid out right there.

"…'Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the full recompense of God. He will come and save you'" (v 4). Christ is going to save the world!

Verse 5: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened… [How many of the blind are going to be healed at that time?] …and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness waters shall break out, and streams in the desert" (vs 5-6). Unheard of, but it's going to happen!

Verse 7: "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land shall become springs of water in the home of jackals, in its lair, it shall be a place for the reed and rush. And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness.…" (vs 7-8).

That's going to be the road that leads up to Jerusalem. Also, symbolically speaking, this is the way of the Lord to walk in. Today the way of the Lord is narrow, and difficult, living in this world. When Christ comes, and the Millennium is in full work and effect, it's going to be the way of Holiness, a highway. manning that the majority of all people are going to walk in it.

"…The unclean shall not pass over it. But it will be for him who walks in that way, but fools, shall not err in it. No lion shall be there, nor any beast of prey shall go up on it, they shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (vs 8-10).

Just like it says there in the book of Revelation that we read, God is going to wipe away all tears, no more pain and no more sorrow! Then the time of no more death. This is the good news of the Kingdom of God. This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and He's going to bring it to pass, and He's going to make it happen.

Isaiah 33:20: "Look upon Zion, the city of our Holy gatherings; your eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet home, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of its stakes shall ever be removed, nor shall any of its cords be broken. But there the glorious LORD will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams…" (vs 20-21).

What did Jesus say during the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7?

On the very last day of the Feast of Tabernacles they had the ceremony of the pouring of water around the altar. So, Jesus gave a message concerning that:

John 7:37. "Now, in the last day, the great day of the Feast… [this is just as the 7th day is ending and the 8th day is beginning]: …Jesus stood and called out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, which those who believed in Him would soon receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified" (vs 37-39). Notice it in:

Isaiah 33:21: "But there the glorious LORD will be to us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars shall go, nor shall a mighty ship pass by it. For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us" (vs 21-22).

So that's really quite a thing, isn't it? This is what we have to look forward to. The meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles has so many meanings, it's astonishing when we really put it all together. We can go almost year, after year, after year and approach this from a different point of view each time. But you know, like on the first day, we had many request to do that again, concerning the tabernacle in the wilderness. That is a marvelous thing and a great lesson for us, too. Here we have the great fulfilling of this.

Now let's see what kind of world government that Isaiah prophesied that this would be. Let's see how that the whole world is going to be brought under the government and the rule of Jesus Christ and the saints. Think about that:

• we are going to replace all governments
• we are going to replace the United Nations
• we are going to replace all the banking systems of the world
• we're going to replace everything

That's something!

So, we don't have to sit around and wonder what we're going to do in the Millennium. You know this for sure, it's not like the Protestant and Catholic view of going to heaven, where you're going to be strumming a harp all the time.

• you're going to have a great work to do
• you're going to have great authority to carry out

And God is going to give it to you!

Isaiah 2:2: "And it shall come to pass, in the last days the mountain of the LORD'S house… [the Government of God] …shall be established in the top of the mountains… [over every other nation] … and shall be exalted above the hills… [the hills are likened unto small countries] …and all nations shall flow into it. And many people shall go and say…" (vs 2-3).

They're going to learn after all the wars and devastation's, they're going to say, 'Okay, I give up. I'm going to go God's way.'

"…'Come, 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…" (v 3).

• that's why there are priests
• that's why there are kings
• we will be teachers
• we will be leaders
• we will be rulers

"…And we will walk in His paths.'…. [the broad highway is going to be the Way of God] …For out of Zion shall go forth the Law… [He is a Lawgiver, He is God, He is King] …and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations…" (vs 3-4).

There isn't going to be anymore foolishness going on. Those who don't do what they should be doing:

…and shall rebuke many people… [they're going to have their work cut out for them to begin with] …and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (v 4).

Now can you imagine what this world is going to be like with this peace, and no war. It starts right out with teaching the new children born into the Millennium. They're going to be taught the right way. They're not going to have their minds messed up with all the things that we have today. Satan isn't going to be around to deceive them. Truth, Holiness, love and mercy. It's like it says that 'mercy and righteousness have kissed each other'! What a fantastic picture that that is for the whole Millennium. We're going to be responsible to carry that out. That's something!

Verse 5: "O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the Light of the LORD…"

Not only is it going to be a broad way, there's going to be Light, which is God's Light and Truth. Everyone is going to walk in the Light.

Verse 6: "For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, because they have become full of divinations from the east…"

That's what started it all, and then it shows how that that goes into another prophecy leading up to the problems and difficulties that brought it about.

I tell you, it's really amazing when you read and study and put together all of these Scriptures on all of the prophecies and what it's going to be like. Stop and think! Who are we? Remember as we read when David had everything for the temple ready to be built, and he was going to give it to Solomon. He had all the gold, silver, brass and iron. The people brought willingly. David in his prayer he said, 'O God, who are we, and what are Your people that we can do this?'

Think about that for us! 'Who are we? What are Your people that You will bless us to give us this work to do?' He's done it by calling the weak and the rejected! Isn't that something, to bring to nothing the things that are. You just think about how fantastic that is going to be, brethren!

Jeremiah 31:1: "'At that time,' says the LORD, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.' Thus says the LORD, 'The people who were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I will go to give him rest'" (vs 1-2).

That's why it says of God's Way, that His rest is glorious!

Verse 3: "The LORD has appeared to me from afar, saying, 'Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love:…"

Isn't that something, that in spite of everything that Israel has done, God still loves them. That's a good lesson for us too, brethren. Not that we go out and sin, not that we take advantage, but remember respond to God because He has an everlasting love for you!

"…therefore, with loving kindness I have drawn you. Again, I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin of Israel. You shall again put on your drums, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things" (vs 3-5).

The book of Amos shows that there's going to be such an abundance, such an absolute abundance that the reapers are going to have to hurry and get out of the way of the plowmen. You talk about abundance of food, and great things going to be. Plus, it says there in Micah 4, that everyone is going to sit under his own fig tree, and his own vine. That means that God is going to give the inheritance to everyone of the people out there, and they're going to have their own places, and they are going to have their own land. They're going to grow their own food, grow their own cattle, grow their own livestock, and whatever other animals that you want. You talk about a fantastic time for children. We'll see that a little bit later on, because God has some absolutely marvelous plans that He is going to do in bringing this to the world.

Verse 6: "For there shall be a day that the watchmen on Mount Ephraim shall cry, 'Arise and let us go up to Zion to the LORD our God!' For thus says the LORD, 'Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations. Cry out, give praise and say, "O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel"'" (vs 6-7). God is going to do that!

Verse 8: "Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the corners of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame… [we are going to help heal them and cause them to have good health, to see and to walk] … the woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; a great company shall return there. They shall come with weeping, and with prayers I will lead them… [God is going to do it, and we're going to have that part with it] …I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way…" (vs 8-9).

This means that the Holy Spirit is going to be poured out in unheard of manner. Almost beyond comprehension. Yet, it says it is there. God is going to give them the same covenant that He gives us.

Verse 31: "Behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah."

The covenant that we have is not this covenant. We have the New Covenant with Christ as the firstborn. When Christ returns and the saints with Him to rule and reign on the earth, then a New Covenant is going to be made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. That will be the Millennial Covenant.

Verse 32: "'Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which covenant of Mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,' says the LORD; 'but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days,' says the LORD, 'I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people'" (vs 32-33).

That, brethren, is going to be a great and marvelous thing. I just, you know this Feast of Tabernacles for me has really meant an awful lot in understanding God's way even more. The part that God has for us, to rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years, and to have this as a work to do, to teach the people, to show them! That's why it's so important that we learn the love of God, and we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being so we can teach them!

Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine; for your Light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you, for behold, the darkness shall cover the earth… [but He is going to take that away] …and gross darkness the people; but the LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 'Lift up your eyes all around, and see. All of them gather themselves together; they come to you. Your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall throb and swell for joy; because the abundance of the sea shall turn to you, the wealth of the Gentiles will come to you'" (vs 1-5).

Then God is just going to bless the world with so many fantastic things. Not like we have it today.

Here's what it's going to lead to, v 16; this also is talking about us. God is not only going to bless us with this work, He's going to bless us with the inheritance because we're joint heirs with Christ, and He's going to bless us with substance, as it says right here,

Verse 16: "You will also suck the milk of nations, and suck the breast of kings…"

That means, the great wealth that's going to be. You talk about wealth that is generated. It's going to be real wealth. Not wealth that we have today, which is on paper and deceitfully accounted for. But real wealth is going to be gold, silver and precious stones. If there be a paper currency, then it's going to be backed by real substance, not IOU's.

"…and you shall know that I the LORD am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob…. [here's what's going to happen]: …For bronze I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver; and for wood I will bring bronze, and for stones, iron. I will also make your overseers to be peace, and your rulers to be righteousness…. [that's us] …Violence will no more be heard in your land, neither wasting nor ruin within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise" (vs 16-18).

You talk about an absolute wonderful administration. I don't know what we're going to call this, you know. We talk about the Bush Administration, the Clinton Administration. This is going to be the Administration of Christ, because the government is going to be on His shoulders, but what shall we call it? The administration of the blessings and abundance of all goodness from God? I guess so, have to be.

Verse 21: "Your people also will all be righteous; they will inherit the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, so that I may be glorified. A smallest will become a thousand…" (vs 21-22).

Talk about children. You talk about large families. I tell you what, there's going to have to be a change in childbirth. I'm sure it's not going to be the painful thing that women experience today. The curse of Eve is going to be lifted off of all women. I don't know how often they're going to have children, but this kind of sounds like pitter-patter noise, a little one shall become a thousand.

"…and the least one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in its time" (v 22).

What a thing this is going to be, because for the eternal Kingdom of God, as pictured by the Last Great Day, God is going to have literally billions and billions in His Family and in His Kingdom. It's going to be something. Look, there's the whole universe out there that God is going to do something with as He completes His Plan. We're going to be a part of it, and these people will be a part of it. It makes you wonder when you hear all of these things, you wonder: How could Adam and Eve have done it in the first place?

The people are going to have a lot of work to do, and they're going to rejoice in their work.

Isaiah 61:4: "And they shall build the old wastes, they will raise up the desolations of former times…"

Now, remember what happened with 9/11. Remember how those buildings were destroyed and collapsed? That's what the cities are going to be like. How long have they been working, cleaning up just those two buildings? Think about what it's going to be like to clean up all the cities of the world, because remember in Rev. 16 in that last great earthquake, it says the cities of the nations fell. That means just like those twin towers when they collapsed. Look at the work that they've been doing there. And so they're going to do it.

"…And they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations…. [it's all going to be new] …And strangers will stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the stranger will be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be called the priests of the LORD…" and that's us!

Here's the prophecy of us, just like we read back in Rev. 20. 'and they shall be priests and kings, and shall reign with Christ a thousand years.'

Well, here it is; "…it will be said of you, 'The ministers of our God'; you will eat the riches of the Gentiles, and you will boast in their glory" (v 6).

There will be tithing in the Millennium, much to the chagrin of some people who like to hold on to their money today. To whom shall they give it? To the kings and the priests!. It will be just like it was under the Levitical system. The Levites received the tithes, and they tithed to the high priesthood. So likewise, it will be the same thing. The people will tithe to us, and we will tithe to Christ. All of this money is going to be used going back to help the people, to teach them. It's going to be quite a thing! Yes, indeed!

Verse 7: "For your shame you will have double; instead of dishonor they will rejoice in their portion… [going to turn everything to goodness and righteousness] …therefore, in their own land they will possess double; everlasting joy will be theirs. 'For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in Truth…" (vs 7-8).

Everything that is going to be done, is going to be done according to the Truth of God, whether it is

• how you live
• how you work
• how you build
• what you build
• no more weapons
• no more learning war

I think the toy industry is going to be just about sayonara, because the children are going to have animals to play with, far better than toys.

"…therefore, in their own land they will possess double; everlasting joy will be theirs. 'For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people; all who see them will acknowledge them, that they are the seed the LORD has blessed.' I will greatly rejoice in the LORD…" (vs 7-10).

Not only Isaiah is saying this, but this is for all of those of us, we are going to be rejoicing in the Lord, the people will rejoice in the Lord. Can you imagine what Sabbath services are going to be like? We won't have to worry about driving. 'Where are you going to drive for Sabbath service?' Won't have to worry, there's going to be a local church right on the corner, which will also be the school. And it's going to be quite a thing! They're going to rejoice:

"…my soul will be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the robes of salvation… [that's talking about us] …He covered me with the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom adorns himself with ornaments, and like a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (v 10).

It's going to be beauty, splendor, riches, glory and honor, that the world has never known. It's going to make Solomon's kingdom look like sandbox. Now that's going to be amazing!

Verse 11: "For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes that which is sown to grow; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to grow before all the nations.

That's the peace that Christ is going to bring. That's the solution to the problems of the world today.

Let's see how this is going to be. I love this part here. I have often wondered how this is going to be. Well, there's going to have to be some changes in the nature of animals. This shows how Christ is going to rule the world. This is how we're going to do it

• with love
• with wisdom
• with understanding
• with strength and power

Isaiah 11:1: "And there shall come forth a shoot out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him…" (vs 1-2).

Here's what it's going to be. You could probably say, if you look at every government, it's:

• the government of corruption
• the government of graft
• the government of regulation
• the government of stupidity and nonsense

and whatever else you want to say! Christ's Government is not going to be that!

"…the Spirit of wisdom and understanding..." (v 2).

• if there's a problem that needs to be solved, it'll be solved properly
• if there's a project that needs to be done, it will be done correctly

"…The Spirit of counsel and might…" (v 2). So that people are going to know:

• why they are here
• why they are born
• what they are doing
• what God's Plan is
• How is it going to be carried out?
• How do I receive salvation?

"…the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (v 2).

You talk about knowledge. You talk about understanding. Isn't it going to be something when Christ gives the format for the textbooks for the schools in the Millennium. I can guarantee you one thing, there isn't going to be that little old nasty word: 'evilution' (as they say in Britain); it's going to be: 'the Lord has made...'

Verse 3: "And His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. And He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes, nor after the hearing of His ears.… [He's going to get all the facts] …But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth… [if anybody rebels and goes against Him] …and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked" (vs 3-4).

The wicked are not going to be around. It's going to be a time when they will either repent or it's over with.

Verse 5: "And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins."

Notice how the whole ecology and animal kingdom is going to be changed"

Verse 6: "Also the wolf shall dwell with the lamb…"

Can you imagine that? The eater is lying with the one that he used to eat.

"…and the leopard shall lie down with the kid…" (v 6).

Today the leopard gets it and takes it up in the tree and eats it

"…and the calf and the cub lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them" (v 6).

Isn't that wonderful? Every child is going to have it's own pet. Along with that comes responsibility, too. They are going to learn to take care of the animals. They are going to learn that if they don't do it right the animal's going to react back to them. They're going to have to clean up the doo-doo. They're going to have to keep everything organized. But they're going to have a lot of fun doing it, too!

Verse 7: "And the cow and the bear shall feed…"

Bears eat a little more grass than I figured, that I've seen in the past. I've seen here just recently some documentaries where it shows that bears are out there eating grass. They eat quite a bit of it. I was really quite surprised. But here at this time they're going to probably be exclusively grass eaters.

"…their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox" (v 7).

In other words, that's what it's going to eat. No more killing and eating as it is now. This next verse always just amazes me:

Verse 8: "And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp … [one of the most venomous snakes in the world] …and the weaned child shall put his hand on the viper's den."

Just to read it makes me shiver, because I don't like snakes. It sure is for me, where it says there were…Christ said in Gen. 3 to Eve, 'I'll put enmity between the seed of the serpent and your seed.' Boy, that's sure true! Now think about this:

Verse 9: "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy mountain…" Think of it:

• no more police force as we know it
• no more crimes
• no more robbery
• no more beat-em-up abuse

I tell you, whenever you watch some of these documentaries on solving crimes, it's just heartbreaking how many women and girls are killed, and abused. No more! No more! Here's why:

"…for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (v 9).

That is something, brethren, that is even difficult for us to understand. The knowledge of the Lord that we have is contained in this one book (the Holy Bible). I'm sure that the knowledge of the Lord at that time is going to far exceed this, because then it's going to be all over the earth.

Verse 10: "And in that day there shall be the Root of Jesse standing as a banner for the people; to Him the nations shall seek; and His rest shall be glorious.'"

• that's what we've been called to do
• that's what God is holding out for us

Let's look at a few Psalms, and see what it's going to be like. This is the way it's going to be. It's going to be:

• in happiness
• in joy
• with glory
• with honor
• with righteousness
• with Truth
• with mercy

As it says: 'mercy and righteousness kiss each other.' I tell you that is one sweet saying, if we could put it that way. I love the Psalms:

Psalm 97:1: "The LORD reigns…"

If you've ever seen the coronation of a king, they announce: 'Long live the king' or 'Long live the queen.' 'Queen so and so reigns or King so and so reigns.' Here it is, 'the LORD the King reigns.'

"…let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of islands be glad" (v 1). I tell you, it's going to be something!

Psalm 99:1: "The LORD reigns; let the people tremble. He sits between the cherubim; let the earth quake. The LORD is great in Zion, and He is high above all the people. Let them praise Your name as great and awesome; Holy is He. The strength of the King also loves justice; You established uprightness; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool, for He is Holy" (vs 1-5).

Then it also talks about a time, we know this is the resurrection.

Verse 6: "Moses and Aaron among his priests,…"

I wonder what Moses is going to do. I wonder what Aaron is going to do. You know, that's an amazing thing.

IF you want to know what it is, you have to be in the Kingdom to find out, because God doesn't tell us. There is no more minister going around declaring what it's going to be, for those of you who remember that.

"…and Samuel among those who called upon His name; they called upon the LORD, and He answered them" (v 6).
 
There's another place that says that, 'Before you ask, I will answer.' Isn't that something? Prayer is going to be so immediate that when the people think of it, it's going to be. Now that has to mean that they have right thoughts! Absolutely! But that's something.

Here is a summary of what it's going to be like all through the Millennium:

Psalm 145:1: "I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You; and I will praise Your name forever and ever" (vs 1-2).

There isn't going to be any worry about, you know, 'Do I pray today? Where is God?' All those things are gone.

Verse 3: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and of Your wondrous works…. [the whole earth is going to know, every human being is going to know] …And men shall speak of the might of Your awesome works; and I will declare Your greatness. They shall pour forth the memory of Your great goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness" (vs 3-7). I want you to think about a society built upon this:

Verse 8: "The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works" (vs 8-9)

Now can you not imagine that during the millennium, that is going to be the greatest work of God? It surely is going to be.

Verse 10: "All Your works shall praise You, O LORD; and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your Kingdom and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations…. [even into all eternity, so it's going to be] …The LORD upholds all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing…. [that is going to be wonderful] …The LORD is righteous in all His ways and loving in all His works" (vs 10-17).

Here is how God is going to be known:

Verse 18: "The LORD is near unto all who call upon Him, unto all who call upon Him in Truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him" (vs 18-19).

The desire! There's going to be right desire. That's going to replace lust.

• love is going to replace selfishness
• righteousness is going to replace lawlessness
• mercy is going to replace cruelty
• compassion is going to replace hardness of heart

All of that for all people! That is our job to do!

"…He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless His Holy name forever and ever" (vs 18-21).

Then we know the last part of Isaiah says from Sabbath to Sabbath, new moon to new moon, obviously from Feast Day to Feast Day, all people will come and worship the Lord.

Can you imagine the wonderful thing that God has given us to do with that?

That's why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles, and that's why we are here. To know what God has for us, and for the world. That we can:

• love God
• stand by faith
• keep His Word
• keep His Feasts
• do the things that are pleasing in His eyes

Brethren, continue to have a marvelous Feast, and we'll see you tomorrow.

Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, a Faithful Version

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 35:20
• Ezekiel 13:1-3
• Isaiah 64:1-3
• Isaiah 40:1-2
• Zechariah 12:2-3, 7-10
• Ezekiel 36:25-38
• Zechariah 14:9
• Isaiah 9:6-7
• Psalm 85:1-13
• Isaiah 35:1-10
• Isaiah 33:20-21
• John 7:37-39
• Isaiah 33:21-22
• Isaiah 2:2-6
• Jeremiah 31:1-9, 31-33
• Isaiah 60:1-5, 16-22
• Isaiah 61:4-11
• Isaiah 11:1-10
• Psalm 97:1
• Psalm 99:1-6
• Psalm 145:1-21

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 24
• Hebrews 10; 7
• Jeremiah 23
• Micah 4
• Revelation 16; 20

FRC:
{original transcriber unknown)
Reformatted: bo—6/2023