Feast of Tabernacles 2005 – DAY 7

Fred R. Coulter – October 24, 2005

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And greetings brethren. This is the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles – 2005. And of course, the seventh day of the feast is the last day of the feast, as we all know, and tomorrow is the Last Great Day. And as you know, this signifies the beginning of the end of the one thousand year rule of the Kingdom of God over human beings on the earth. And we know that all during that time that Christ is going to be King, we are going to be ruling, we are going to be serving, and there will be many, many people added into the Kingdom of God all the way down through the Millennium.

Now let’s come back to where we have been talking about the last couple of days about the cycle from revival to lethargy and apostasy. And let’s restate that just a little bit different. Let’s call it the cycle of life: birth, education, family, society, culture. Then we have lethargy, and also apostasy. Now let’s change the equation just a little bit for those who are righteous: birth, education, family, society, culture, continued faithfulness, change from flesh to spirit, attain to the Kingdom of God. However, we’re still going to be dealing with human beings during the Millennium, aren’t we? And they’re all going to have the power of free moral agency and choice. Now even though the human nature will be modified just a little bit, it’s still going to be something that we’re going to have to contend with. And it is still going to be something that the people will have to exercise, because God does not want anyone to be a robot. And as we have seen, that’s why God is so vehemently against the mark of the beast because it takes away choice. It takes away free moral agency.

Now how is this going to be minimized or overcome during the Millennium? Because there’s going to be the life cycle. And as we see down toward the end of the Millennium, we are going to see the fullness of what the Kingdom of God is going to bring, aren’t we? Let’s just take the last hundred years of the thousand. We are going to have a society that has been built on love, and peace, and joy, the fruits of the Holy Spirit; we are going to be having many people come into the Kingdom of God during that time. And it’s going to be a time where the earth has not had war, nor suffering, nor sorrow, nor any of those things; no poverty, no famine, no earthquakes. Just think about it – a thousand years of that. Now how then are we going to minimize the effects of the life cycle when it comes to lethargy and apostasy? Because you cannot stop it. God does not want to stop it if a person so chooses. But how can we minimize it, and what is God’s plan so that it’s not going to result in disasters all the way down through the Millennium? And then we will see what will happen in that last generation at the end of the Millennium.

First of all, let’s come back to Psalms 47 and let’s see how the main thing that is going to be. Christ is going to be on the earth as King. We are going to be kings and priests. And this is going to be a tremendous and important thing for us. Now here, Psalms 47, this is kind of a depiction of the millennial setting: “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD Most High is terrible [and that means awesome]; He is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.” So here’s the cooperative work then of what Christ is doing, and what we are doing, as we will see here in just a minute. Now let’s come down into verse 7: “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted” (Psa. 47:1-3, 7-9, KJV). So number one, Christ is King. Now that’s going to help cut down or modify the extremes of the life cycle.

Now let’s come to I Peter 2, because here is what else is needed. Now when you go through and see the reigns of the various kings of Judah, there were the righteous kings – and the same way with the judges – and the people followed them as long as they were righteous. That is true. But the circumstances are going to be entirely different during the Millennium. Yes, there will be choice, and yes, people will make wrong choices. We will see. And yes, there will be some who will apostatize, because they must choose. Now you go back and think about what God did with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He gave them choice, didn’t He? Now all during the Millennium the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not going to be there. Satan is not going to be there. So when we’re dealing with the choices of the people during the Millennium it’s an entirely different proposition; and while there will be those who will choose not to enter into the Kingdom of God, it’s going to be a choice that is going to be a personal one that each one is going to make.

Now we on the other hand are going to help, again, minimize by teaching – teaching God’s way, teaching the truth. Now here in I Peter 2:9 it talks about our calling: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” And so we are going to bring light to all the people during the Millennium. Now just think of the billions of people that there are going to be. This is going to be something. And there are going to be righteous rulers. No more corruption, no more lying, no more cheating, no more stealing as far as the government and as far as the way of the Lord is concerned. No more false prophets around teaching things that they ought not teach.

Let’s come back here to the book of Proverbs and let’s see a principle that is going to apply all the way through the Millennium. Now this is going to be something, to be able to teach them, be able to train them, be able to give them the things that they need to do; and yet at the same time everyone has to choose. So if we have this then it’s going to help minimize the problems. Let’s come here to Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice…” And that’s what’s going to happen. It’s going to be something that will go on all during the Millennium. But you see what happens in human experience is this, when the culture is set, and people are born into it, then the temptation of their own choice is going to be, “Can I do something differently?” Because, as we’re going to see, that even though nature has changed, it is not totally changed. Now verse 4: “The king by judgment establisheth the land...” (Prov. 29:2, 4, KJV). So that’s what we’re going to do – by judgment and by teaching, it’s going to be the right way.

Now as we saw yesterday, the knowledge of God is going to cover the earth as the seas cover the earth. So it’s going to be a tremendous and fantastic thing. So we’re going to be teaching them; we are going to be training them. But free choice is going to continue. There will be people who will sin. There will be people who will not repent, in spite of everything. Now we’ve seen this, haven’t we? Haven’t you known people who have been in the church, who have understood the truth, and who by free moral agency have chosen to just ignore it? And as one man told me recently when he met some people who have apostatized, he said, “Well, do you miss the holy days?” And the answer was, “Well, not really.” So, quite an answer. Now he had no pressure on him that he could not choose to do the right way, but he chose to go that way.

Now let’s come back here to Isaiah 48, and let’s again see how things are going to be during the Millennium, and then we will, as we come toward the end of this day, we’re going to see what is going to happen. Let’s pick it up here, Isaiah 48:16: “Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning...” No, even God’s word has not been in secret from the beginning. But He has written certain things in such a way that we must seek it out today as guided by God’s Holy Spirit. But during the Millennium there is going to be nothing in secret from the beginning. “...From the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent Me.” This is speaking of Christ. “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go” (Isa. 48:16-17, KJV). And that’s what we’re going to do. We are going to teach them. But they still have to choose. No question about it. It’s going to be a thing of teaching continually, learning of God’s way. And I’m sure there are going to be some fantastic and tremendous things that people are going to learn and know and understand.

Now let’s come back here to Deuteronomy 6, and let’s see what God told Israel when they were in the wilderness. And let’s see that this is also going to be a message to people continually, because there is still going to be the carnal mind. It’s not going to be as evil and wicked as it was during this age, but they’re still going have to choose. They’re still going to have to be taught. Now most of the time they are going to be willing. Most of the time they will want God’s way. And here’s what’s going to happen. Now let’s see it right here in Deuteronomy 6:3. And when we’re reading this just expand it out through all people, all nations, all time down during the Millennium. “Here therefore, O Israel [or wherever nation it will be], and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee…” Because that’s what God wants it to be – well, good. But you see, the goodness when things are well, when things are rich, when things are overflowing, when there is a tremendous abundance, the hardest thing to be is zealous. And we have seen the cycle through the churches, too. The hardest thing to be when you have everything at your fingertip is to be diligent.

So here’s a reminder. This is what we are going to teach them: “...that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily…” And we know for sure that during the Millennium people are going to increase mightily. It’s going to be a fantastic and tremendous harvest. “...As the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.” Now in this case, the whole world is going to flow with milk and honey. And God is going to fulfill His promises to all people. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all my might.” And this is what we’re going to teach them. And this is the key to overcoming lethargy and apostasy – loving God in this way: “...With all thine heart, [with all your mind,] and with all thy soul, and with all thy might [and with all your strength]. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart...” And that’s what the whole covenant is going to be with Israel when they’re brought that of captivity. God is going to write and inscribe in their hearts and their minds His laws and His way.

Now in order to do that, we have to choose to let it be done. And so will they. They will have to choose to love God, to keep His commandments. Now see, like in any institutional situation, there will be people who will on the surface be doing that. Now at that time, being the sons and daughters of God, and kings and priests and teachers and rulers, we’re going to know that. We’re going to understand who is acting that way. But still they’re going to have to be taught so that they have to choose. Now just like we have to overcome lethargy by choosing to do so, by doing something which is going to help revive us; just like Paul wrote to Timothy, “Stir up the Spirit that is within you.” And the very nature of human beings we need constantly to be stirred up, to be taught. And of course, one of the greatest teachers is repetition. And that’s how the Bible is. The Bible is very repetitious, isn’t it?

Now notice verse 7. Here’s how teaching is going to be: “…And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes” (Deut. 6:3-8, KJV). And yes, it’s going to be that, isn’t it? Now think of the whole world, the whole society like this. It’s going to be the teaching.

Now we can liken all this teaching to the tree of life. And what we’re going to see, that during the Millennium there’s going to be the tree of life, and then we will see in a little bit, the congregation of the dead. And we are going to see how God is going to handle severe sin. Now let’s continue on. Let’s see what we are to do here. Let’s come to Psalms 32, and let’s see again about teaching and learning. And that’s what it’s going to be. Just like with us today, what we are doing today is this – we are being taught of God to develop the character of God so that we can enter into the Kingdom of God. And that’s exactly what’s going to happen all during the Millennium.

Now let’s think about this, how brilliant, how smart that everyone is going to be. Let’s think about this. You take away all the sins, all the cursings that people have had, and then you have 900 years of teaching God’s way continually. Now that’s going to be something, isn’t it? Yes. We’ll get to the last hundred years in a minute. Psalms 32:8: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go...” That’s what we’re going to do. As we saw earlier, if they go to the right hand or to the left hand we’re going to say, “No, here’s the way, walk you in it.” And: “...I will guide thee with Mine eye.” Now notice verse 9: “Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” So that’s what we’re going to teach them. See, here is choice in action. We’re going to set before them the choice. Now it’s going to be a whole lot easier to choose to good. But nevertheless, it has to be conviction of heart, conversion of mind and spirit, and it has to be on a continuous basis. So we’re going to teach them, “No, don’t be stubborn.”

Now verse 10: “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked...” We’re going to teach them that. And they will be able to see that in concrete lessons, as we will see here in just a minute. “...But he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” (Psa. 32:8-11, KJV). And so that’s exactly the way it’s going to be all through the Millennium.

Now look at this thing of teaching again. Let’s come back here to Psalms 25. Quite a tremendous psalm here, showing what’s going to happen. And the teaching is going to be marvelous. And we are going to be doing the teaching, we are going to be doing the training, but we will never be given authority nor does God ever desire to take away free moral agency. Everyone must choose. This is what we need to understand. Because if we don’t, we will not understand some of the difficult Scriptures there in Revelation 20 and what God is going to do.

Now let’s pick it up here in verse 4. Now here is David praying to God: “Shew me Thy ways, O LORD; teach me Thy paths.” This is what we’re going to do. “Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me...” Notice how much it is, “Teach me; show me.” As a matter fact, we are going to see that five times in this psalm it says, “Teach me.” And we have to know, we have to be taught. Now also there’s a process that when we reach a certain point of learning we can be teaching ourselves too, can’t we? But again, like in everything else, we have to choose what is right in order for things to be right. We have to choose what is good in order for things to be good. “...For Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day [long]. Remember, O LORD, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving kindness is; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth [because there’s going to be mercy and forgiveness], nor my transgressions: according to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” So mercy and forgiveness is always going to be there for those who truly repent. And of course we’re going to know, aren’t we? Without a doubt.

Now verse 8: “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies” (Psa. 25:4-10, KJV). And that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing and teaching. And they will know.

Now let’s come to Isaiah 66 and let’s see something else, because we need to ask the question: What is going to happen to those who choose not to follow God’s way? Because there will be those who will do it. Now let’s see this over here in Isaiah 66:22: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the LORD...” Now during the Millennium it’s going to be a new heaven and new earth. After the Millennium and the Great White Throne judgment period of 100 years then there’s going to be heavenly Jerusalem coming to the earth. There is going to be a remaking of the earth, and so that one is going to remain forever.

Now, “...So shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another [and this means from one month to another], and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the LORD.” Now let’s read verse 24, because why would this verse be here? Let’s read it: “And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me...” So there is going to be the death penalty incurred for sin – “the wages of sin is death,” and that will not change. God has decreed that for human beings. “...For their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhoring unto all flesh” (Isa. 66:22-24, KJV).

In other words, the ones who are the sinners and sin and absolutely refuse to repent, what’s going to happen to them? There will be a lake of fire. So what is being viewed here is the congregation of the dead. So let’s understand how this is probably going to work. Let’s come back here to Proverbs 21. Because there are going to be those who choose not to go God’s way, in spite of everything; in spite of the beauty, in spite of the conveniences, in spite of being taught by us. Now think about it for a minute. Was not Adam and Eve taught directly by God? Yes. And they did choose to sin. They had to make the choice to eat of the tree. Now yes, Satan was there to mislead them. That is true. During the Millennium Satan is not there to mislead them. So their choices, if they choose to go against God’s way, are going to be absolutely profound. Of course, they will be given opportunities to repent. They will be called to repentance. But there will be those who will not repent.

Now Proverbs 21:15: “It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.” And that’s just what we read back there is Isaiah 66:24. “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead” (Prov. 22:15-16, KJV). Now this is talking about those who do not repent. So we can say this: all during the Millennium there’s going to be the congregation of the living, who are eating of the tree of life, which then is teaching the love of God, the mercy of God, the faith of God, the truth of God, and so forth. Then you have those who wander out of the way and don’t repent, and they are in the congregation of the dead.

Now let’s come back here to James 2 and let’s see something that’s important to realize, how that even demons, knowing better, chose the wrong way, even in the face of God, like Satan did. Now let’s come back here to James 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils [demons] also believe, and tremble.” Now why? Number one, they don’t obey God. Number two, they know their fate, as we’ll see a little later. They understand what’s going to happen to them. Now those during the Millennium who choose to reject God’s way, they know what’s going to happen to them. But you see, choice is so powerful. And when a person sets his or her mind to choose and not back down from that choice, they will say, “I don’t care.” And just like with the demons here, they know that God exists. They know that disobeying Him is going to lead to their eternal punishment, don’t they? Did not Satan know that when he rebelled? But of course he did. Did not the demons who followed him know that when they followed him? Yes, indeed.

Now how is such a thing going to happen? It’s going to be something, isn’t it? They are going to choose, just like we saw. Now let’s come back here to the book of Proverbs. Now I think that if you go through the book of Proverbs you’re going to see a lot of things that we’re going to be teaching; and all the things of the right and the wrong, the good and the bad, the truth and the lies, and the evil and righteousness, and so forth. Let’s come over here to Proverbs 5:10. So we’re going to get a principle out of here that is true. It says: “…Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labors be in the house of a stranger; and thou mourn at the last…” Now remember, as we’re going to see tomorrow, at the lake of fire there’s going to be what? Weeping and gnashing of teeth. “...And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, and say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof…”

Now let’s just use an example. Every pack of cigarettes has on it what? A warning: “This may cause cancer, emphysema, sickness, and death.” Do people still buy them? Yes. Do they read the warning? Of course. Do they believe the warning? Yes, as it applies to everybody else, but not to themselves. They think somehow it won’t apply to them. Because there’s still going to be the choice of self-delusion. And God is not going to take that away. Now can that be repented of? Of course. But if they don’t repent then it’s going to be a terrible thing. Now verse 13: “…And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly” (Prov. 5:10-14, KJV). So here is a person who rejected teaching but is coming to his senses and looks like he’s going to repent. So that’s quite something isn’t it? So there is going to be that.

Now let’s continue on and let’s see how things are by choice, and what people do and so forth. Now here is going to be something else that we are going to be teaching all the way through. Now let’s pick it up here in Proverbs 4:18: “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Now this is the pattern that we need to have today in order to overcome lethargy and never be caught in apostasy. And this is what we need to be teaching people all the way down through the Millennium. We need to be teaching that. We’re also going to teach them – because if there is sin, wages of sin is death, and if they sin, they are going to die. And we’re going to see that anyone who dies during the Millennium is accursed.

Now verse 19: “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” Prov. 4:18-23, KJV). And of course, there’s going to be the greatest development of human intellect, spiritual intellect, knowledge of God, knowledge of the creation, knowledge of the laws of what we call of science and everything, won’t there? It’s going to be absolutely profound; so much of it that unless they concentrate on the spiritual things then they may make the wrong choices.

Now let’s come to Isaiah 65. And we apply this both to the 100 year period and to the Millennium. Now let’s just think about this for just a minute as we are going through. We know this for sure, when Christ returns the dead in Christ are going to rise first, aren’t they? Yes. Those who are alive and remain – now, there’s no time for them to die and be put in the grave, right? Because Christ is here. The resurrection is taking place. And they are righteous and ready to go, aren’t they? This is the time when God makes the exception that “it’s given to everyone once to die,” and “as in Adam we all die.” Because Paul writes in I Thessalonians 4 that “…We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, we are not going to precede those who have died.” They’re going to be resurrected. “But we who remain and are alive will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (I Thess. 4:15, 17, paraphrased). Then he adds there in I Corinthians 15 – at the last trumpet.

So all during the Millennium – let’s ask the question: if someone is righteous (and we’re going to take the 100 year period and apply it to the time all the way down through the Millennium, that a person’s life will be a hundred years) that if they are faithful and come to 100 years, why would they have to die any more than those who are alive when Christ returns would have to die? What would be the reason for that? There would be no reason whatsoever. So when they come to the end of their lives at 100 years (and just think of this: instead of having a funeral we’ll have a “going out-coming in” party) they will be changed – of course by the command of God – from flesh to spirit in a moment in the twinkling of an eye and enter into the Kingdom of God.

Now I don’t know when this is going to happen. Will this become part of Sabbath services as we go down in time? Will this become part of the holy days coming down in time? Will this be part of the first holy day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, that you transfer from living in the world to living in the Kingdom of God? I don’t know. So I’ll ring my cowbell on that [rings bell] so you know we’re just speculating on this. But all of these things are entirely possible. And in this we need to realize that God does expect us to apply our minds and ask for understanding while we do so, so that we can understand it.

Now let’s come here to Isaiah 65:17 and let’s apply this not only to the Last Great Day and the meaning of that, but let’s also apply this to the Millennium: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not fulfilled his days: [so it says next here] for the child shall die an hundred years old...” And that means the child is going to live to be 100 years old. Now whether it dies or whether it enters into the Kingdom of God depends upon the choice of the child. But it is not going to die an untimely death.

“...But the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed” (Isa. 65:17-20, KJV). So this shows that if anyone dies instead of entering into the Kingdom of God, that person is accursed and their fate is sealed. And everyone knows that this person is going to face the second death because God has decreed that all sinners die twice and that they be burned alive in the lake of fire. Now also all down during the Millennium we know this, that if a person sins a sin unto death that they will be cast into the lake of fire, as we saw there in Isaiah 66. So there’s going to be a lot of incentive for people to really want to be in the Kingdom of God. However, because of human choice some will refuse in spite of everything, in spite of all the warnings, in spite of all the things that come upon them. And they will reject God’s way. They will die accursed. So whenever there is someone who is dead and buried, that is the seal of their ultimate judgment. And they will have to die the second death.

Part 2

Now let’s continue on. Let’s see what Revelation 20 tells us. Now Revelation 20 presents a little difficulty in understanding what happened to Satan the devil at the beginning of the Millennium and why he is let loose at the end of the Millennium. And I think we will be able to see and understand more clearly why that is if we understand properly what we have been saying the last couple of days here concerning human nature and choice.

Now it seems almost inconceivable that people would choose to reject God and His way with Christ being King on the earth, all the saints being the priests and the teachers, and everyone being taught God’s way. But there is still the choice that’s important that we realize that God is going to let them exercise. And in the last generation, then we are going to see that there’s going to be a good number of people who have chosen not to go God’s way. Now we don’t know the exact number because it doesn’t tell us. But let’s come here to Revelation 20 and let’s see concerning Satan the devil, and why God would do this. There has to be a reason why God would do this.

Revelation 20:1: “Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, having the key of the abyss, and a great chain in his hand. And he took hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.” Now why bind him a thousand years? Why not a get rid of him entirely? Well the answer is, God still has need for him for one more mission. So here’s what the angel did: “Then he cast him into the abyss, and locked him up, and sealed the abyss over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time,” or for a little season. Now a “short time” is defined in the book of Revelation as perhaps three and a half years. So we’re looking at a time period that, after the thousand years, he is going to be loosed. Now why do that?

Now let’s come down here and let’s read a little bit more. Let’s come all the way down here to verse 5: “(But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed.)” We’ll cover that tomorrow. Then it says here in verse 6: “Blessed and holy is the one who has part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. Now when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; and he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog...”

Now we’ve seen in the past how that Gog and Magog are the ones who fight against Christ after the Millennium has started, and how Christ has to put them down. So the name Gog and Magog and the area where they come from is the epitome of evil. And the attitude that they had in coming up against Christ and the people of Israel at the beginning of the Millennium is the attitude that distinguishes them from other people at that time. However, as we have seen, it says “then all nations shall know Him,” which means even Gog and Magog. So this is not a predetermination against a people. Otherwise then God would be a respecter of persons. So when we come to the end of the Millennium, Gog and Magog is not referring to the people, but to the geographical area. Now why the geographical area? And notice it says, “…to deceive the nations.” So that’s more than just one. So there is going to be a place geographically known as Gog and Magog which are in the four corners of the earth, wherever that is. And if that’s in the north and east like we understand where Gog and Magog is today, that pretty well may well be the place.

Now it’s says: “...of whom the number is as the sand of the sea...” (Rev. 20:1-3, 5-8, FV). So at the end of the Millennium, this last generation, there has to be something that God does that’s different all during the Millennium. What is that? Well, we find a clue of that back here in the book of Genesis. Now let’s come back here to Genesis 3. Now when Adam and Eve sinned – and the wages of sin is death; and didn’t God tell them that “…In the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die,” or “in dying you shall die”? And then Paul writes in Romans 5, that’s how human beings came to have the law of sin and death within them, because that was the part of the judgment that God gave against Adam and Eve that the law of sin and death was put within them. And of course, this is what all human beings inherit.

Now if God would have executed them right on the spot, how would there be any human race? Because the first man was Adam, and Eve is the mother of all living. So there wouldn’t be any human beings. In other words, in order for God’s plan to continue God chose not to bring the death penalty upon them immediately, but put within them the law of sin and death so they would die.

Now let’s see what happened here. Because God chose not to kill them at that time, let’s see what happened. Genesis 3:23: “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life” (Gen. 3:23-24, KJV). Now what do we have here? In the beginning when they were created they lived in the Garden of Eden. And the whole world at the end is going to be like a Garden of Eden, isn’t it? Yes. Now, when they sinned God chose not to execute them for their sins. He chose to give them the law of sin and death, and then what did He do? He removed them from the Garden of Eden. Or you could say, exiled them. They couldn’t come back into the Garden of Eden. It was protected by the Cherubim.

Now we have another example of this with the sin of Cain and in killing Abel. Now because of what happened there, God chose not to execute Cain, didn’t He? He chose to let him live. But let’s see what his sentence was. Now it says here in Genesis 4:9, after Cain had killed Abel: “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper [of course he was]? And He said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground.” And since God is God, and He knows the situation… Someone wrote and said, “How can blood cry out of the ground?” Well, it did, and God heard it. Maybe human beings can’t hear it, but God does.

And here is his sentence: “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” But he took it, didn’t he? Yes. “Behold, Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth…” The “good earth,” as it were, because he was sent to another place, wasn’t he? “...And from Thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth...” And then he was worried that if someone found him that he would be slain. And sure enough, later he was slain. “And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden” (Gen. 4:9-16, KJV).

Now this is quite an occasion here, isn’t it? But it sure serves a point, doesn’t it, that when God chooses not to execute the wicked, He removes him and exiles him. So he is sent to the land of Nod, which is the land of wandering; east, further east of Eden. Now could this not be the same during the Millennium with the geographical area of Gog and Magog? Otherwise, how do you get these people who, at the end of the Millennium, God deliberately sends Satan out to deceive them? And what is the purpose in doing so? Now let’s understand something here – Cain’s sin, he knew it was wrong. He killed his brother; he chose to do so. He was confronted by God. There was no repentance, there was no remorse; only that he felt sorry for himself that he was being removed, right? And he felt sorry for himself that he had a curse put upon him, right? Yes. How about those who in the last generation of the Millennium reject the way of God? There’s not time for them to live out their lives and die accursed. So what is the logical solution? What can we make out of what we have here to properly put the Scriptures to understand what we have in Revelation 20? Well, that God sent them now in exile. They didn’t repent of their sins.

Now let’s come here to II Kings 17, because we also see an example here over, and over, and over again when the people of Israel did not follow God, God sent them into captivity or into exile, didn’t He? Yes He did. Now here in II Kings 17 is quite a story about what Israel did. And it has kind of the similarity of what’s going to happen; not exactly en toto as we read it and look at it, but this is what’s going happen. II Kings 17:9: “And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God...”

Now during the Millennium there are going to be people who will do things secretly, though we will know that they do it, just like God knew here that the children of Israel were doing things secretly that they knew they shouldn’t do. And that’s the nature of human beings – when they don’t have the Spirit of God, when they reject the Spirit of God, when they reject the truth of God, they do things secretly, sneakily, deceitfully. And especially during the Millennium. But you know what’s going to happen? They’re going to get caught. Now since all sinners have to die, and God has made a special provision here at the end of the Millennium to take care of the sinners who will not be able to live to be 100 years old, to be buried and accursed, they have to die, as it were, prematurely. So in order to take them and let them live until a certain time, God is going to have to exile them just like He did here with the children of Israel, to send them out into captivity.

So let’s read what the children of Israel did. And they knew better. How many prophets were sent to them? How many holy men were sent to them over and over and over and over again? We can go back and analyze the thing concerning Solomon. Did Solomon know better? Of course he did. And yet isn’t it interesting there’s no account that Solomon repented. And they: “...did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they build them high places in all their cities...” Now it’s in their heart to want to do this. So when they are exiled, don’t you think that’s exactly what they’re going to do? They’re going to get together and exercise their free moral agency and their opinions, and by their actions they are going to set out to prove to themselves that they are right and God is wrong. And also, will not God give them over to their own deception? Will not God let them then, when He exiles them, go ahead and do what ever they desire to do – to lie, to cheat, to steal, to commit adultery? Now they’re going to have an opportunity to worship Satan, and that will prove at that point, as we will see here a little later on, that they absolutely refuse. They will come to this way right here.

Now let’s come to verse 13: “Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets...” And what are we going to have all during the Millennium? A continual teaching, a continual testimony, a continual witness of everything that is right and good. So those who reject God’s way are going to do so with forethought, with malice, with understanding, with lack of repentance totally, with spurning the Spirit of God, spurning God, spurning the sons of God who are teaching them, refusing to do what is right. Just like it says here, even though there were told, “...Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, in which I sent to you by My servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks...” Now that is a choice. That’s a pretty powerful choice isn’t it? Yes. People are capable of rejecting God and choosing evil and hardening their hearts. Now some will do that.

So it says here: “...like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected His statutes, and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them...” (II Kings 17:9, 13-15, KJV). Well, they won’t have an opportunity to do that in the Millennium because the heathen around them are all going to be converted too. There won’t be any heathen. But there’s going to be this territory out there of Gog and Magog. So if someone says, “I don’t want to go along with the system. I don’t want to go along with the program. I am perfectly capable of making my own choice.” And God says, “Alright. You choose to go, you go. You go over here to Gog and Magog.” Now we don’t know how long they’re going to be there. It’s going to be less than 100 years for sure. That we can be pretty sure of. But it’s going to be longer than just a short time. Only Satan, as we have seen, is going to be released for a short time. And we will see what that is for.

Let’s come back here to Revelation 20 and let’s look at it again and see what Satan does. Now they have rejected God, rejected all pleas for repentance; they have hardened their hearts; they are just like Cain, they are just like the children of Israel who rejected God. Only in this case let’s magnify it that much greater because the Kingdom of God has been on earth for 900-plus years. And they have not only the witness of people but they’ve got the witness of the whole society, the culture, the civilization and everything else and yet they choose not to follow God’s way. So why does God send Satan out to deceive them? There has got to be a reason. Number one, the first reason is that they do not have time to live 100 years and die an accursed death. So this is going to be, God is going to use, so that they are all going to die at one time at one event so that the wicked will die their first death.

Now let’s see that, Revelation 20:7: “Now when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison; and he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog...” Not the whole earth, just that geographical section because that’s the area of exile. “...Of whom the number is as the sand of the sea...” So God doesn’t know who or how many it’s going to be. And this is a verification of free moral agency, isn’t it? Yes.

Now here’s the purpose: “...to gather them together for war.” See, whenever Satan is loosed there is war. Now can you imagine what Satan is going to say – and of course, the demons with him. When it talks about Satan, we will see here in a minute it has to do with demons also. Can you imagine what Satan the devil is going to say when he is allowed by God for his final mission to go over there and deceive the people who have been exiled to Gog and Magog? He is going to whip them up in a great frenzy and spirit of rebellion. He is going to convince them that he is God. He is going to convince them and deceive them because they have already rejected the salvation of God. And when they do, their minds are going to be readily receptive to everything that Satan the devil is going to bring to them and tell them.

So he’s going to organize them. The demons are going to give them excitement, and again, false miracles and things will take place. They are going to think that they are going to be able to come down and conquer God. Now how many times has Satan done that? He did it with the angels when the third of the angels rebelled with him and fought against God, and that failed. Every attempt of Satan down through time has failed. He couldn’t tempt Jesus Christ to sin, could he? No, not with all the promises of even giving the kingdoms of the world to Him. Down through history he has convinced men to worship him. And so here now is Satan’s grand finale. And he’s going to go out, and these people who are exiled, that need to die the first death, and they need to die at a specific time because the Millennium is going to come to an end. And so God is not going to string this out forever. A thousand years has a beginning and an ending. So this is the grand finale at the end for all of the wicked who in that last generation have rejected the salvation of God.

So he gathers them together for a war. They’re going to come and take Jerusalem; going to come and conquer God. And that’s what Satan has tried to convince people to do all the time. And even right at the return of Christ, right in the middle of the seven last plagues as we saw, what happens? Spirit demons like frogs come out of the mouth of Satan, come out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. And they go out and they’re working miracles and deceive the kings of the earth to come and fight against Christ. So let’s just say, here is a repeat of this. He goes out and he convinces them, “Listen, look at all the miracles that we’re able to do.” And of course, the demons are out there performing all the miracles among the people who have been exiled. He says, “Let’s go to war!” They say, “Yea! Let’s go to war! We want to triumph! We knew that we were right! We knew that God was wrong!”

Verse 9: “Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints...” Now the camp of the saints – is this when all the saints are there keeping the Feast of Tabernacles? Is this the time? Because remember, all nations are going to send their representatives every year to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, aren’t they? And what a perfect time Satan would think to get everybody. God is there, Christ is there, all the saints are there, all the representatives from the nations are there. “Now if we can do this while they’re celebrating this Feast of Tabernacles, and we are able to be successful and take over, then we can control the world.” So this is Satan’s last fight to try and take over the Kingdom of God and the power of God. And so this is why they encircle the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Now notice, God takes care of them. And what does this fire do? “...And fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them...” That’s their first death. Because as we will see tomorrow, God has decreed that all of the incorrigible wicked die twice. And they will die in the lake of fire. They die their first death consumed by fire.

Now then, there’s one other thing that this last day of the Feast of Tabernacles pictures, which we will see here in just a minute. What has to be the last, final thing during the Millennium is this - Satan receives his final judgment. And as we will see, he receives his final judgment and punishment, and confinement and torment before the Great White Throne Judgment. Because all of those who are resurrected during the time of the Great White Throne Judgment have already lived one life under Satan the devil. So they don’t need to live a second life under Satan the devil, and God is not going to put them under that. Rather, He is going to execute His judgment against Satan the devil and the demons.

Now let’s see that beginning here in verse 10: “And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone...” And as we saw in Isaiah 66, that’s going to be there all during the Millennium isn’t? Yes. “...Where the beast and the false prophet had been cast...” Because we know in Revelation 19 they were cast into the lake of fire before Satan was bound. Now if human beings are cast into the lake of fire they burn up. They become ashes. They become just dust, like it says there in Malachi 4, that the wicked will become dust under the feet of the righteous. “...Where the beast and the false prophet had been cast; and they...” Now it’s interesting that the Greek says they, that is true. But since human beings cannot be tormented day and night forever, it has to refer to Satan and the demons, and we will see that in just a minute, because wherever Satan goes the demons also go. “...Shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity” (Rev. 20:7-10, FV).

Now let’s come here to Matthew 8 and let’s see something here. Let’s see what the demons said when Jesus came. And they were talking to Jesus. They talked to Jesus. Remember what we read back there in James 2 earlier, that the demons know there’s one God. And they fear and tremble because they know their punishment is coming. And they knew during the ministry of Jesus Christ that they were going to be cast into the abyss.

Now let’s pick it up here in Matthew 8:28: “And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two who were possessed by demons coming out of the tombs, so violent that no one was able to pass by that way.” Now notice what they said: “And they cried out at once, saying, ‘What do You have to do with us, Jesus, the Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?’ ” Very interesting, isn’t it? Yes – “to torment us before the time.” “And the demons pleaded with Him, saying, ‘If You cast us out, allow us to go into the herd of swine’ (Matt. 8:28-29, 31, FV). ” So that’s what happened. They did that and that’s exactly what happened. So they knew that they were to be tormented.

Now let’s see the parallel account in Luke 8, and let’s see what else that the demons said when He asked them who they were. Let’s come here to Luke 8:30-31 (FV). “And Jesus asked it, saying, ‘What is your name?’ And it said, ‘Legion,’ because many demons had entered into him. Then it begged Him that He would not command them to go away into the abyss” (Luke 8:30-31, FV). They knew that the abyss was the place of restraint. So they didn’t want, number one, to be tormented ahead of the time. So they knew there was a time when torment was coming. And they also knew the time that they were to be cast into the abyss. And so this verifies that when it talks about Satan being put into the abyss, the demons are also put into the abyss. And when Satan is cast into the lake of fire and tormented, that torment applies also to the demons. So it’s quite correct with the Greek where it says, “And they were tormented day and night for ever.”

Now does it mean that they are going to be tortured, tormented by the fire? In other words, does the lake of fire continue into eternity? Now some people believe that it continues into eternity. Now let’s come here to Hebrews 2 and let’s ask another question, because this always comes up. Someone always says, “Well, why couldn’t God make them physical human being-types, and then when they are cast into the lake of fire they’re burned up and there’s no more remembrance of them anymore?” Well, God created them as spirit beings. Even when they became demons He did not change the composition of which they were made, did He? Satan is a spirit; the demons are spirits, so they’re still spirit beings.

Now here in Hebrews 2, the King James Version says that Christ came to “destroy” Satan. So they read that in the English and they think that is the proper translation, which it’s not. We will read it in the proper translation in just a minute. They say, “Well, in order for them to be destroyed, since spirit can’t be destroyed [which is true], then God must make them into human beings in order to destroy them when they are cast in a lake of fire.” But if they’re cast in the lake of fire as human beings and they are burned up, how can they be tormented forever and ever? And are they tormented in the lake of fire forever, or where it says, “And they are tormented forever,” does this refer to a different condition after having been cast into the lake of fire? We will see.

Now here, Hebrews 2:14 (FV): “Therefore, since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, in like manner He also took part in the same, in order that through death He might annul...” Now that is the proper translation, not destroy. That “...He might annul him who has the power of death – that is, the devil...” Let’s look at something else concerning their torment, which is actually a greater torment, because the lake of fire obviously is not going to burn for all eternity. Because as we will see, the final lake of fire that takes place, as we will see tomorrow, is going to consume the whole earth and prepare it for the new earth and the new heaven.

Now let’s come over here and read this in Jude. Let’s understand that this talks more about the fate of demons and how God is going to take care of them. Jude 6: “And the angels who did not keep their own original domain, but deserted their habitation, He is holding in eternal bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” Now that’s showing that they’re being held for that judgment. Now let’s read something here. And we know that Satan is the devil, who has inspired Sodom and Gomorrah and all of the corruption that there is. Let’s come over here to verse 11: “Woe to them! For they have walked in the way of Cain; and for gain, they have wholly given themselves up to Balaam’s delusion, and have perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are subversive stains in your love feasts, feasting in person together with you; fearlessly they are feeding themselves.” Now then, it then blends into the demonic powers that are inspiring them and it tells us what the final torment of Satan and the demons really will be. Because the last day of the Feast also includes the final judgment against Satan the devil, as we have seen, before the Last Great Day begins.

Now it says here: “They are clouds without water [without the Spirit of God], being driven by the winds [and that is demons]; trees of late autumn, without any fruit, uprooted, twice dead...” So it shows the incorrigible wicked are going to die twice. Now then it blends from there into the demons. Verse 13:“…Raging waves of the sea, casting up like foam their own ignominious shame; wandering stars [now it’s talking about demons], for whom has been reserved the blackest darkness forever!” (Jude 6, 11-13, FV). Now that is the torment that is going to take place with Satan and the demons. Not that they’re going to be tormented by fire, but they are going to be tormented because they will be cut off from God forever. And it will be a testimony forever to everyone in the Kingdom of God that rebellion never pays. God only is right; God only is true, and His way is righteous.

So when it says here, “And shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity,” that has got to be the blackness of darkness forever, totally cut off from God, totally removed from God and in a place in the universe which will be a witness forever. So that’s quite an ending to the Millennium, isn’t it? So the Millennium ends with a great bang and a crescendo, and then all wickedness is removed. Satan is removed, and the now the earth is ready, and God’s plan is ready for the fulfillment of the greatest thing that is ever going to take place in the history of the world – the fulfillment of the Last Great Day.

Feast of Tabernacles 2005 – Day 7

Scriptural References

• Psalms 47:1-3, 7-9
• I Peter 2:9
• Proverbs 29:2, 4
• Isaiah 48:16-17
• Deuteronomy 6:3-8
• Psalms 32:8-11
• Psalms 25:4-10
• Isaiah 66:22-24
• Proverbs 21:15-16
• James 2:19
• Proverbs 5:10-14
• Proverbs 4:18-23
• I Thessalonians 4:15, 17
• Isaiah 65:17-20
• Revelation 20:1-3, 5-8
• Genesis 3:23-24
• Genesis 4:9-16
• II Kings 17:9, 13-15
• Revelation 20:7-10
• Matthew 8:28-29, 31
• Luke 8:30-31
• Hebrews 2:14
• Jude 6, 11-13