Feast of Tabernacles 2009─Day Seven

Welcome, brethren! For all of you old timers out there, a lot of us thought we'd already be in the Kingdom of God by many, many years, but it hasn't come, yet, because the time will come at the set time; not in a way that we may think; not in a way that men may misinterpret the Scriptures. But in the meantime, since we are now many years away from 1975, what we are doing is learning more of the way of God.

Remember what Jesus said, 'For it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the world it hasn't been given!' (Matt. 13) He also said that 'Truly, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things that we see and have not seen; and to hear the things we hear, and have not heard.'

Now, let's see how Peter also understood this and explained it. Yet, when you realize it, what we are covering now, and the way that we understand the Feast today—nearly 2000 years removed from the apostles—is that Christ is also revealed more things through the writings of the apostles and through the writings of the Old Testament: the Law, the Prophets and the Writings; also the Gospels and the General Epistles, Paul's Epistles and Revelation.

1-Peter 1:10: "Concerning which salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you…"

Grace does not mean just the forgiveness of sin. Grace is the umbrella under which we live in our relationship with God from which then comes God's love and mercy and hope and faith and forgiveness—all of those things! So, we have to add it all together, and grace to understand.

As we all know, the Bible has not been given as a book that you just pick up and read and you understand and you're enlightened! No! You must have the Spirit of God, you must have also God's timing in letting these things be known to us.

"…have diligently searched out and intently inquired, searching into what way and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them was indicating, testifying beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and these glories that would follow" (vs 10-11)—the glories of the Kingdom of God!

Then you tie all the other Scriptures together. This is why the seventh division of the Bible, the book of Revelation, requires a good knowledge of the whole Bible in order to understand it. I want you to realize the blessing of the knowledge and information that God has given us and we'll see the way that He gives it to us and then we will go back and we will see the meaning of the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Verse 12: "To whom it was revealed that, not for themselves…"

Just like the angel told Daniel, 'Go your way, Daniel, it's not for you to know; it's closed and sealed until the time of the end.' At the time of the end 'the wicked shall do wickedly' and none of the wicked shall understand but 'the wise shall understand.'

Psa. 111:10 says that 'a good understanding have they who do all His commandments.' We can take all of that and we can add to that God's Spirit, the timing and the days in which we are living, and we have—as we do every year—a greater unfolding of the plan of God, a greater knowledge and insight of the plan of God, learning a little bit more because it's 'precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little.'

As Jesus said: 'The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life.' We're going to see are spiritually understood IF we 'rightly divide the Word of Truth' IF you wrongly divide the Word of Truth, you can come up with a lie.

 Anyone who is teaching, and anyone who is learning, cannot have any other agenda than the Truth of God; the understanding of the Scriptures as God wants us to understand it. To recognize that it doesn't come to men because of who they are. It comes from Jesus Christ Who's the Head of the Church, and He is over all. Let's keep that in mind as we go through and study day seven.

"…but to us they were ministering these things, which now have been announced to you by those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit… [not by self; not by personality; not by self-appointment—but by the Holy Spirit] …sent from heaven—into which things the angels desire to look" (v 12). When you think about that, that's really something!

1-Cor. 2 tells us how we understand the Word of God, and how we can understand these days. Here's another thing that's important in understanding the Holy Days: You cannot understand them unless you keep them, and unless you keep them the way that the New Testament—as well as the rest of the Bible—shows us! This is what we're going to do today.

1-Corinthians 2:9: "But according as it is written, 'The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'"

Before you understand anything in the Bible, not only do you have to keep the commandments of God, not only do you have to keep the Holy Days, but you've got to love God! The reason that is so is because unless there is the love of God in helping and teaching and serving, then it becomes a self-serving vehicle for power and control! That's how hierarchies are started. So, keep that in mind.

If you love God, v 10: "But God has revealed them to us…"

Any knowledge and understanding that I have of the Bible is not because of me—though I have to apply myself just like you have to apply yourself; it's because I'm trusting and looking to God and Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, to properly, 'rightly divide' the Word of God and understand the Word of Truth. That's how we have to approach everything that we do.

"…God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things… [not only your heart and mind, not only the Word of God, but]: …eventhe deep things of God" (10).

God doesn't want us to remain in kindergarten, first, second and third grade. He wants us to understand the deep things of God and that's why living in the end-time we have got to beseech God:

• for His wisdom
• for His Truth
• for His understanding
• for His Spirit

so that we can know it! God will add it to us a little at a time.

Now then, Paul draws this analogy, v 11: "For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man which is in him?…." But the 'spirit of man' is not good enough by itself to understand the Word of God!

"…In the same way also, the things of God no one understands except by…[or through] …the Spirit of God…. [it's the only way] …Now we have not received the spirit of the world…" (vs 11-12).

If you have the spirit of the world, which is the spirit of Satan the devil unto fear and bondage again, you'll never understand the Scriptures. This is why you've heard me say for nearly a year now, over and over and over again, the three things:

• Sabbath
• Passover
• Holy Days

vs the things in the world of the counterfeit Christianity, which is:

• Sunday
• Easter/Eucharist/Mass, communion
• holidays

All three of these are lies! Also understand this: You cannot understand God by worshiping Him with lies! You cannot expect to use parts of the Word of God, coupled with lies to understand the plan of God.

That's just a basic thing that we all ought to know, and yet, brethren, unfortunately, how many brethren are out there with itching ears, wanting to find a teacher to teach them something different? Rather than sticking with the Bible and the Word of God and applying themselves to it to know the Word of God, to learn from the Word of God. If you have the Spirit of God, God the Father's the One Who's doing the teaching to you! That's what we need to realize and understand. 

"…but the Spirit… [that's what we have received] …that is of God, so that we might know the things graciously given to us by God" (v 12). That's something really important that we've got to understand!

When we come to the seventh day of the Feast of Tabernacles, we're going to see some very interesting things; we're going to review what it is going to be like during the Millennium, and how are people going to be in relationship to God and each other.

As we covered yesterday, when there is sin—and Adam and Eve started it—the penalty given to the whole human race was a nature of sin and death. This is how the whole human race got the carnal minds that they have, which are hostile to God and not subject to the Law of God.

When we repent and come to God we have our sins forgiven and are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, then our hearts and minds are circumcised to receive the Spirit of God and the Truth of God. So that's the first thing that has to take place when the Millennium begins.

God says, at the beginning of the Millennium concerning the house of Israel, the house of Judah, etc.:

Ezekiel 36:23: "'And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD' says the Lord GOD…"

This is the Millennial setting where all the world is going to know. We've seen how that some nations will willing come; how other nations have to be rebuked by Christ in order to bring them to their senses and come to Jerusalem.

Verse 24: "For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all countries, and will gather you into your own land. And I will sprinkle clean waters upon you, and you shall be clean…. [the washing away of their sins] …I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your idols" (vs 24-25).

Here's the important thing; realize this: It doesn't do any good to forgive people's sins if their hearts are not changed, because they'll go right back into it. Frankly, brethren, that's what's wrong with the Christianity of this 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.'"

Just as we covered on the first day, the restitution of all things is going to be also the restitution of the heart and mind of all people. That's necessary to get rid of the carnality. That's necessary to prepare them for repentance and the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 27: "And I will put My Spirit within you…"

Notice a new spirit of man removing the law of sin and death to a great degree. He can't completely take it away because there is free choice, and everyone has to chose what they're going to do. But it will be greatly reduced!

"…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'" (vs 27-28). That's going to be a great thing for the whole world!

Verse 29: "'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" (vs 29-30).

There has to be repentance! That repentance God will lead them to, but they have to choose, just like we have to choose to repent. Repentance is a choice. Walking in God's way is choice.

Verse 31: "And you shall remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations."

There has to be that mass repentance; and that repentance has to be carried on down through every generation of the Millennium, because God is not going to force people to accept salvation against their will. God expects people, that once they've repented and received the Holy Spirit of God:

• must work with the Holy Spirit of God
• must use the Spirit of God
• must educate the mind with the Word of God
• must walk in the way of God

to Walk in faith and to believe in hope and to live in love so that they themselves can qualify for the Kingdom of God.

While it is true all during the Millennium Satan won't be around, so we can say that's going to be a whole lot easier for them. Well, it may be. However, they will never qualify for the first resurrection, which we're qualifying for. As Paul said, 'it's a better resurrection.'

How God is going to break that down we don't know. That's why we need to attain to the Kingdom of God so we'll find out.

Sidebar: Once we are spirit beings then please remember that we're going to start learning far more. Do you think that we're going to quit learning? and just remain at the same level through all eternity? Of course not! 

Verse 32: "'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…. [so they're all going work] …And the waste land shall be tilled, instead of being desolate before all who pass by'" (vs 32-34).

Verse 35: "And they shall say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden…. [and then that goes out to the whole world] …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 35-36).

That's quite something! That's what God is going to do! When God says He's going to do something, and it involves us as human beings, we have to be willing participants. We have work diligently and apply ourselves, and exercise ourselves unto righteousness, unto Truth, or in this case, the physical work of doing the things that need to be done.

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).

To understand the plan of God through the Feasts of God. That's why we have the book: God's Plan Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days.

"…so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men. And they shall know that I am the LORD'" (v 38). That's the way it's going to be all through the Millennium for all nations!

Let's see some more things because, brethren, this is really, really, tremendously exciting! Especially when you understand that these things were not known the way that we understand them today until maybe beginning in the 1940s & 50s there was a beginning of an understanding of these things. Then we grew in knowledge all the way down, and then the Church was scattered because of sin. Those who are faithful God has blessed with understanding. God has also been doing His Gideon thing, and so the Church today is much like Gideon's army.

As you recall, God told him to raise an army, so he sent out the word and 30,000 men came. Then God did an incredible thing. He said, 'All right, that's too many men. I want you to select all of those that lap the water like a dog, and I'm going to use those.' That turned out to be 300. All the rest went away griping and complaining because they wanted to get out and have a fight. Well, when it's God's battle, when it's God's fight, He doesn't need the might of men. But He wants the men and the women to yield to Him, to bring these things so they can come about.

Isa. 32 will tell us what we need to do; give us some more understanding of how it's going to be; Isaiah 32:15 "Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is thought to be a forest…. [this is the way it's going to be during the Millennium] …Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the result of righteousness shall be quietness and confidence forever. And My people shall dwell in a peaceable home, and in secure dwellings and quiet resting places" (vs 15-18). That's why the Millennium is called the rest of God!

Isaiah 55:11—says the Lord: "So shall My Word be, which goes out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall certainly do what I sent it to do." That is through the Spirit of God:

• to bring conversion
• to bring humility
• to bring blessing
• to bring love
• to bring righteousness
• to bring judgment

Verse 12: "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break out before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands"—showing that the entire environment's going to be changed!

Notice the reversing of the curse of Adam (Gen. 3); v 13: "Instead of the thorn, the fir tree shall come up; and instead of the brier, the myrtle tree shall come up; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off.'"

Therefore, it's really great the way that these things are going to happen. Just think of this, all through Millennium!

Prov. 11:30—here's a very fitting Proverb for us. What we are trying to do in this—and I hope that it will help us understand—is that we need to put the Scriptures together the way that it makes sense.

Proverbs 11:30: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!" (vs 30-31).

There are still going be the wicked and sinners in the Millennium. We'll what will happen to them in just a little bit. They're not going to be around to be able to gain any power to lead people astray. Because as kings, priests and teachers, we're going to be there to say: 'Don't go to the right hand, don't go to the left hand, here's the way of the Lord.' I'm sure we'll be doing that because if we're going to be the teachers and priests and leaders, we're going to be conducting Sabbath services, Holy Days, teaching the people. They're going to learn! That's why they'll all be taught of God and will be in the Family of God and we'll be teaching them.

All these tell us about the Millennium; all of these tell us about the Kingdom of God, which without the book of Revelation we really don't understand.

Isaiah 25:6: "And in this mountain… [the house and Government of God] …the LORD of hosts shall make a feast of fat things for all the people…"

If you think we live in a land of abundance now, wait until all of that is multiplied generation after generation down through the thousand years.

"…a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering which covers all people…" (vs 6-7). Take away the blindness of their eyes that Satan put upon the whole world!

"…and the veil that is woven over all nations…. [that's how Satan the devil deceived the whole world] …He will destroy death forever… [eventually, at the end of the Millennium—the Great White Throne period] …and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces. And He shall take away from all the earth the rebuke of His people, for the LORD has spoken it. And one shall say in that day, 'Lo, this is our God. We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation'" (vs 7-9).

Isaiah 26:1: "In that day this song shall be sung in the land of Judah: 'We have a strong city; He sets up salvation as our walls and banks. Open the gates, so that the righteous nation shall enter in, one that is faithfully keeping Truth'" (vs 1-2).

That tells us an awful lot about what we're going to be doing all during the Millennium, because, as spirit beings, we will have access to Jerusalem, which is going to have a great canopy over it. It's going to be a beautiful setting. We don't know what the house of the Lord is going to look like there, but it's sure not going to be the little miniature temple spoken of in Ezek. 40-48, because when you really understand it, that is the temple that was rebuilt when they came back out of captivity from Babylon.

We can learn this today, v 3: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You…" Think of that! You want to overcome troubles: mentally, emotionally, spiritually?

• keep your mind stayed on God
• on the Word of God
• on the Truth of God
• the way He wants us to live
• perfect peace

{note sermon: Stability in Times of Trouble}

"…because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever; for God the LORD is the everlasting Rock, for He brings down those who dwell on high; He lays low the lofty city; He lays it low, even to the ground; He brings it even to the dust" (vs 3-5).

What's going to happen to all the cities before the Millennium starts?

Verse 6: "'The foot shall trample it, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.' The way of the just is uprightness; O Upright One, You make the path of the righteous level…. [you can go in a straight way.] …Yea, in the way of Your judgments, O LORD, we have waited for You; for Your name and for Your remembrance is the desire of our soul" (vs 6-8). That's what it needs to be! Notice the:

• conversion
• dedication
• steadfastness to God

Verse 9:"With my soul I desired You in the night; yea, with my spirit within me I will seek You earnestly; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the people of the world will learn righteousness."

That's what we are going to be doing. That will be our job. But this is how we need to respond to God today. Then we can teach the people in the Millennium to respond in the same way. That's a pretty good deal.

Let's come over here to the book of Micah now and let's again review how it is going to be. There is going to be education, teaching, peace, productivity, and every good thing.

• if you think the cities that we have today are something, wait until the cities during the Millennium
• if you think there are beautiful people today, wait until the Millennium!

We are going to be astonished!

If you want an interesting comparison: My wife was watching the classic movie channel, because there's so much garbage on TV that when it gets all garbage-ladened, she turns to the classic movie channel and watches some of those old movies. I watched some of them with her for a while, and I was struck that 70-years ago—between 55-70-years ago all of the actors and actresses and the people that were in the movie—and there wasn't one overweight person in the general population. It just struck me!

I thought when I go out to the mall or go shopping, just like it says, 'Jeshurun waxed fat'—so I think it's talking about that people get fat. For those of you who are overweight, take heart, I have to fight over-weightness myself. But it just struck me! The food that they were eating then was different than what we have now. It wasn't all genetically-engineered; and it wasn't all with the carbohydrates and things like we have now; or meat that is grown on hormones; or milk that is all pasteurized; eggs that are produced by chicken factories. They looked healthy and they weren't overweight!

That also gave me some solace in this way. I'm also a victim of the food that is here and once the weight gets on it's tough to get off. So have hope! When you're resurrected, that will be the instantaneous weight-loss program that God will have for all of us.

Not only is it going to be where those things will be in the way that they should be. Good food for everyone, but here's what's important; because remember the three things that are basically wrong with this world:

• they have the wrong god—Satan the devil
• the governments of this world—from top to bottom, large and small, local, nation, international—are all messed up because they serve Satan the devil
• the religions of this world teach people to worship Satan the devil

All of those things are going to be gone!

Micah 4:1: "But it shall be in the last days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains… [so there's going to be a house of the Lord] …and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, 'Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob. And He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths'—for the Law shall go forth out of Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people…" (vs 1-3). That will be all during the Millennium! There is going to be judgment all the time!

"…and will rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (v 3).

They're going to get rid of all the toy factories—sorry China, we won't need any of your plastic monsters or your wooden, lead-painted, poisonous toys for kids. You'll find other employment.

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

Let's see how the food supply is going to be; Amos 9:13: "'Behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that the plowman shall overtake the reaper…'"

Tell the reaper, 'Hey, get out of my way, I'm plowing!' He'll say, 'Oh, I got so much to harvest here—I'm slow!'

"'…and the treader of grapes him who sows seed. And the mountains will drop sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it. And I will bring back the exiles of My people Israel, and they shall build the cities which are desolate, and they shall live in them. And they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. They shall also make gardens and eat their fruit. And I will plant them in their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them,' says the LORD your God" (vs 13-15). That's what it's going to be like during all the Millennium!

(go to the next track)

Let's see how everything is going to point toward Zion coming out of Jerusalem.

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…"

In other words, dwelling with God, God dwelling in them, the whole meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles.

"…not one of its stakes shall ever be removed… [because it isn't going anywhere ever again] …nor shall any of its cords be broken. 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" (vs 20-21).

In other words, going to be a mighty stream of the water of God; and that's a foretaste of what it's going to be like when we come to tomorrow and see that out from underneath the Throne of God and the Lamb come rivers of crystal-clear water. That means pure spirit from God.

Verse 22: "For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, the LORD is our King; He will save us."

There shall be salvation through all during the Millennium. That's really going to be a tremendous thing. As evil as man is, yet, the good part of him and his human nature wants to have exactly what's in the Bible.

• man wants to have peace
• man wants to have plenty
• man wants to have safety
• man wants to have love
• man wants to have contact with God

But until there's conversion, men want to do it their way! God's message to them is going to be this: 'It's going to be My way or the highway'!

He's going to tell us what it's going to be like. I think about this every time I fly, especially when I fly back east and I fly over all the mountains and over all the deserts and I look down there and I know there're very few people per square mile, and it's dry, it's barren—especially in the summer or early fall, you can see there's not a blade of green grass around. All the rivers are dry. Everything looks like it's been baked in the summer heat. But notice what it's going to be like. Can you imagine that there will not be deserts in the Millennium? Think about how much food that will support for people.

Isaiah 35:1: "The wilderness and the desert shall be glad and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. 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" (vs 1-2).

What a time that is going to be! Absolutely fantastic, beyond our wildest imaginations! And we're going to have a part in it. We're going to be able to make this come to pass—of course, under Christ's direction because He's King; the government will go out from Jerusalem, etc.

Verse 3: "Make the weak hands strong and make the feeble knees sure. Say to those of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the full recompense of God. He will come and save you'" (vs 3-4). That's what's going to happen to the world!

Verse 5: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened… [both spiritually and physically] …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. 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…. [the way to eternal life] …The unclean shall not pass over it. But it will be for him who walks in that way, but fools… [those who reject salvation] …shall not err in it" (vs 5-8). They're not going to go in there by mistake!

Verse 9: "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."

How much that includes physical Israel, of the redeemed that come back out of captivity, we don't know. How much that means those of us who receive salvation, become spirit beings and we're looked upon as the redeemed, I don't know.

Verse 10: "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."

Every evil and problem that mankind has created for himself shall be gone! Remember, Satan the devil and the demons, at the beginning of the Millennium as we saw, were bound in the abyss.

• Satan is not there
• human nature has been changed
• the Spirit of God is available
• the blessing of God on all the land

and everything that is done is going to be fantastic!

Psa. 145—here's quite a Psalm that also tells us about what it's going to be, and it talks about some of our responsibilities. Here again we see the same thing. Here is a prophecy showing God's way; how the Millennium will be. Just think of the potential that human beings will have:

• all of their love
• all of the joy
• all of the Truth
• all of the goodness
• all of the peace

What a wonderful thing that is going to be!

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. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable…. [during the Millennium]: …One generation shall praise Your works to another and shall declare Your mighty acts" (vs 1-4).

Continuously teaching the way of God, worshiping God the Father and Jesus Christ, and the glory that's going to be is going to be absolutely phenomenal! If you think the earth is beautiful today, just wait until the Millennium!

Verse 5: "I will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and of Your wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of Your awesome works; and I will declare Your greatness" (vs 5-6).

As we read this, understand: this is how we're going to teach the people. This is what we're going to teach them. This is going to be part of their conversion.

Verse 7: "They shall pour forth the memory of Your great goodness and shall sing of Your righteousness…. [here's what they're going to sing]: …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 7-9).

You could almost make a hymn out of that! Anyone want to compose a hymn, why don't you try this one; see what you come up with.

Verse 10: "All Your works shall praise You, O LORD; and Your saints shall bless You"—every day!

When we're in the Millennium as spirit beings, we're going to pray every day. We're going to study every day. We're going to worship God every day directly! Isn't that something?

Then for the people; v 11: "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… [that's our mission assignment for the Kingdom of God] …and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom [God's]. Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations" (vs 11-13). No other government; no other way, God's way alone!

Verse 14: "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" (vs 14-15).

That's the way it's going to be. A wonderful time for us to know and understand God's way as never before.

Let's ask some questions concerning the Millennium, which they always come up. I think we can put it together and we can, from the Scriptures, answer some of these questions, such as:

• How long will people live?
• What will happen to sinners?

Some of it we don't know directly, but from other parts of the Bible we can put it together and we can understand it, and we can use the principles that are in the Bible to see if they will fit in the plan of God as we understand it as far as we do right now.

Maybe we'll understand more as we go down in the future. Now remember, when the Millennium starts the heavens are all messed up, the earth is all in turmoil, all the cities have fallen, everything is in terrible shape, bodies are strewn across the face of the earth, piled high and deep, and all of that has to be taken care of. Our first job is going to be a real cleanup. In order to establish what the Millennium will abide by, God has to do this. Now, this does not necessarily mean the new heavens and new earth in Rev. 21 & 22, but it can mean both!

Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. And the former things will not be remembered, nor come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and I will joy in My people; and the voice of weeping will no more be heard in her, nor the voice of crying" (vs 17-19).

That could apply to the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21 & 22) but notice, as we go on, this is talking about the Millennial setting, because when we get to Rev. 21 & 22 there can't be any more children being born. All will be spirit beings, the sons and daughters of God.

Verse 20: "'There will not be an infant who lives but a few days, nor an old man that has not filled his days, for the child will die a hundred years old; but the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed."

This tells us, during the Millennium people will live to be 100-years-old. That also can apply to the Great White Throne Judgment—both—because it's going to be the same thing for them in the Great White Throne Judgment (which we'll talk about tomorrow), but today we're seeing how the Millennium is going to end.

Verse 21: "And they will build houses and live in them… [during the Millennium] …and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit."

We're going to apply this to the Millennium and the Great White Throne Judgment period of a hundred years.

Verse 22: "'They will not build, and another live in them; they will not plant, and another eat; for like the days of a tree are so will be the days of My people, and My elect will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for calamity. For they are the seed of the beloved of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together… [tie in with Isa. 11] …and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the food of the serpent. They will not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy mountain,' says the LORD" (vs 22-25).

Let's come back and look at something here in v 20; let's examine this a bit and then we will see what happens to people during the Millennium. Obviously, the majority of them are going to want salvation and they will enter into the Kingdom of God. Some of them will not, because it says

"…the sinner who is a hundred years old shall be accursed" (v 20)—which means at the end of a hundred years—and probably sometime well before that—the sinner is going to be accursed or cutoff from God!

If they die, there's going to be a funeral, and the sinner put into the ground. Some of them are going to be thrown into the Lake of Fire. When that happens, that is their first death. That becomes important, because tomorrow we will see the wicked—and God has decreed that all the wicked will suffer the second death—they must die twice physically.

• What about those who are righteous?
• What does it mean that an infant is going to live?
• An old man that has not filled his days?

meaning that he's going to fill his days; "…for the child will die a hundred years old…" (v 20).

• How does that square with being able to enter into the Kingdom of God?
• What kind of death is this talking about for those who are righteous?

Let's draw on some other Scriptures so that we can understand this. Since we all have a nature that is subject to death—which we inherited from Adam and Eve—let's look at this Scripture here which talks about that. I know that in the past I have gone back and forth on this: that there's no need for them to die. In going back and forth on it, I had to conclude that this death (Isa. 65) has to be an instantaneous death and change for this reason:

Hebrews 9:27: "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this, the judgment."

We know that applies to everyone. We know that Isa. 65 says, 'the child shall die a hundred'; the infant is going to be born, live a full life of a hundred years and die a hundred.

• What if they're righteous?
• What happens?
• How does that square with the Bible?

Some say that they'll die and be put in the grave and then resurrected at the end of the Millennium. Well, the other Scriptures do not bear that out.

• How do we reconcile this?

Let's read what happens to those who remain alive when the resurrection takes place:

1-Thessalonians 4:14: "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in exactly the same way also, those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

We're talking about those who have died will be resurrected and meet Christ in the air!

Verse 15: "For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall in no wise precede those who have fallen asleep… [so the dead in Christ are going to rise first] …because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds for the meeting with the Lord in the air; and so shall we always be with the Lord" (vs 15-17).

We've looked upon that and said that since they're alive and have been faithful there's no reason for them to die. Well then, how can we make that be reconciled with Isa. 65, which says that they die?

Hebrews 9:27: "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die…"

Well the only way we can reconcile it is this: There would be no need for the righteous to die and be put into the grave and then resurrected at the end of the Millennium, and we have no Scriptures to justify that. The way that we reconcile it is this: That transformation, or that change, if you are alive, has to be an instantaneous death and change of the flesh to spirit! Have to be! I know, for years I've gone back and forth on this, how is this going to be accomplished? This way then all the Scriptures fit together!

Phil. 3—we will see about us being transformed. The Scriptures are to make sense! All Truth is logical, but not all logic is truth! What we're trying to do here is 'rightly divide' the Word of God, take all the Scriptures and see how they can be made to harmonize correctly so that we can make sense out of it. Since it's given to all once to die—it didn't say there were any exceptions; we thought there were exceptions, but why would there be? It's given to all once to die; if they're righteous and live to the end of the 100-years there will be a transformation; but that transformation will be and instantaneous death and change; so, that the Word of God cannot be broken!

Philippians 3:20: "But for us, the commonwealth of God exists in the heavens, from where also we are waiting for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who will transform our vile bodies… [The old man must die! How long must he stay dead? Just an instant!] …that they may be conformed to His glorious body… [a spirit body, shinning as the stars of heaven] …according to the inner working of His own power, whereby He is able to subdue all things to Himself" (vs 20-21).

At this point, I think that is the best way that we can understand it. The reason is that all the Scriptures fit together!

Here's what is likely to happen: As we go down during the Millennium, most of the people will accept salvation. Most of them will be changed with an instantaneous death and transformation from flesh to spirit and enter into the spiritual Kingdom of God.

The sinner, who does not repent—if he does a 'sin that is unto death'—will probably be cast into the Lake of Fire or be executed some other way for his sin. If he's executed some other way, he will die and be buried and everyone will know that when someone dies and is put in the ground, they miss the opportunity for salvation and they are in the ground waiting the second death—or have been transformed into ashes, being cast into the Lake of Fire, to be resurrected for the final judgment with all the rest of the incorrigible wicked.

Let's see about this transformation. 1-Cor. 15 is the resurrection chapter. It tells us the requirement to enter into the Kingdom of God.

1-Corinthians 15:50: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God…"

No one is going to go into the spiritual Kingdom of God as a physical human being; it isn't going to happen!

"…nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant… [instant death!] …in the twinkling of an eye…" (vs 50-52). Blink! Quick death and transformation!

For us waiting the return of Christ: "…at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (v 52). This we can apply to all of the righteous!

We know that when it talks about the resurrection here, this is quite something! Of course, the Church at Corinth was really quite a church, because they were even saying, 'Hey the resurrection is over, it only applied to Christ.' So here the church at Corinth was beginning to get into 'your soul goes to heaven.' A little bit of Greek mythology mixed in there. Paul had to tell them; he says back here in

Verse 34: "Awake to righteousness, and do not sin, for some of you do not have the knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. Nevertheless, someone will say, 'How are the dead raised? And with what body do they come?' Fool!…. [talking to the brethren] …What you sow does not come to life unless it dies" (vs 34-36).

There's another principle we can add to this. 'It's given to men once to die.' The change is instantaneous! It's an instantaneous death and transformation.

Verse 37: "And what you sow is not the body that shall be; rather, it is bare grain—it may be of wheat, or one of the other grains; and God gives it a body according to His will, and to each of the seeds its own body. Likewise… [with us] …not all flesh is the same flesh. Rather, there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another of fish, and another of birds. And there are heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but the glory of the heavenly is different, and the glory of the earthly is different. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power" (vs 37-43).

So, during the Millennium we can apply this instantaneously! Don't have to be buried.

Verse 44: "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body; accordingly, it is written, 'The first man, Adam, became a living soul; the last Adam [Christ] became an ever-living Spirit.' However, the spiritual was not first, but the natural—then the spiritual" (vs 44-46). We can apply this directly to all people in the same way!

Finally, let's come down here and see the ultimate of everything; v 53: "For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory'" (vs 53-55).

That's the whole purpose of the Millennium, so that people will enter to the spiritual Kingdom of God as spirit beings.

Let's see something that people have wondered about a long time. Some have asked: Since the Millennium is going to be there, why wasn't Satan given his final judgment at the beginning of the Millennium? Why was he put into the abyss—and where he goes all the demons likewise go; and we can verify that by Rev. 9. Let's see what happened to Satan the devil on the Day of Atonement.

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" (vs 1-2). He's removed from the presence of men, but he is bound in the abyss, which is on the earth!

Verse 3: "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…"

Now we come down to the last generation during the Millennium. Just think of 900-years of peace, prosperity, plenty; all that sort of thing—and you know that there's going to be a giant case of Laodiceanism such as the world has never seen. Because all of the miracles and wonders of God will be taken for granted. God is going to do something with those people, and as we will see, that's why Satan has been bound, not totally removed.

Notice what is says here: "…until the thousand years were fulfilled; and after that it is ordained that he be loosed for a short time" (v 3).

Why would he be loosed again? What would the purpose be? A lot of people say, 'Well, it's going to be a whole lot easier for those in the Millennium to come into the Kingdom of God, because they don't have to fight Satan the devil'—that is true! However, does it mean that people will not have the choice to reject salvation? No, it does not! They will have the choice to reject salvation. Will there be people who do that? Yes! That's why Isa. 65 says, 'the sinner will die a hundred, being accursed.'

Verse 4: "…and they… [those who are Christ's] …lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years…. [v 5 is a key for tomorrow]: ….(But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were completed.)…."

Verse 7: "Now, when the thousand years have been completed, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison."

Why should he be loosed? Because there's a logistical problem that God will solve using Satan the devil! The incorrigible wicked, who have rejected salvation, will not have time to die and live a hundred years. What does God do with those who sin as we have seen at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles? He sends them into exile, just like He did in

• exiling Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden
• exiling Cain even further more because of his sin, to the 'land of wandering'
• exiling the children of Israel when they sinned
• exiling the children of Judah when they sinned

So, this helps us understand v 8, because there will be an exiling of those who sin but will not live their full 100-years.

Notice what Satan does when he's released; v 8: "And he shall go out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog…"

This confronts us with another problem: Did God pre-determine that all of Gog and Magog will never be saved; none of their descendants? Well then, salvation would not be open to all people; so, how do we understand Gog and Magog? I think we understand it from a geographical place!

"…in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog…" (v 8). It says 'the nations'—more than just Gog and Magog. In other words, in that area—Gog and Magog—that is probably the area of exile from all nations. So, he deceives them. How many are there?

"…of whom the number is as the sand of the sea, to gather them together for war" (v 8).

He's going to be released and he's going to be turned on them, and he's going to say:

Here I am. I'm the real god that you really want.' Unfortunately, in the war with the other God down there in Jerusalem, I lost that battle, but now I have escaped and you and I together will form a mighty army and we'll go down to Jerusalem and we will take over and we will rule the world.

So that's what it is, full war!

Verse 9: "Then I saw them go up upon the breadth of the earth and encircle the camp of the saints… [Could that be during the Feast of Tabernacles?] …and the beloved city; and fire came down from God out of heaven and consumed them" (v 9).

Which then has to be their first death! That takes care of all the sinners of the last generation who did not have an opportunity to live a full 100-years. They will be resurrected back to the resurrection of the wicked to be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Now notice—then the judgment comes upon Satan the devil to end the Millennium and he is henceforth put away forever.

Verse 10: "And the Devil, who deceived them, was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast; and they, Satan and the demons, shall be tormented day and night into the ages of eternity."

Why will they be tormented? Because they are spirit beings! The 'they' means Satan and the demons, because the beast and the false prophet were already burned up at the beginning of the Millennium. Human beings burned up cannot be tormented day and night forever. So, this is Satan's fate!

Jude tells us that ultimately they're going to be in the 'blackest darkness forever.' They will be out there somewhere in the universe as a perpetual lesson that sin and rebellion never pay; and sin and rebellion will not be tolerated.

So that's how the Millennium ends!

Scriptural References:

• 1-Peter 1:10-12
• 1-Corinthians 2:9-12
• Ezekiel 36:23-38
• Isaiah 32:15-18
• Isaiah 55:11-13
• Proverbs 11:30-31
• Isaiah 25:6-9
• Isaiah 26:1-9
• Micah 4:1-4
• Amos 9:13-15
• Isaiah 33:20-22
• Isaiah 35:1-10
• Psalm 145:1-15
• Isaiah 65:17-25, 20
• Hebrews 9:27
• 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
• Hebrews 9:27
• Philippians 3:20-21
• 1 Corinthians 15:50-52, 34-46, 53-55
• Revelation 20:1-5, 7-10

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 13
• Psa. 111:10
• Genesis 3
• Ezekiel 40-48
• Revelation 21, 22
• Isaiah 11
• Revelation 9

Also referenced:

Book: God's Plan for Mankind Revealed by His Sabbath and Holy Days by Fred R. Coulter

Sermon: Stability in Times of Trouble

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7-24-09
Reformatted/Corrected: 6/2020