Welcome to the Feast of Tabernacles—2009

Welcome, brethren, to the Feast of Tabernacles. This is certainly quite an eventful year that we have lived through since the Feast last year, and almost all the events that have taken place are still in motion and we're still suffering from them; and there are a lot of difficulties and problems that we're facing that we have never faced before.

Let's begin by going to Luke 21, because we will see part of the things that Jesus told us was that these events would happen and we are going to see unparalleled, unprecedented events happen almost on a daily and weekly basis as we move forward toward the end.

We know that Satan is trying to set up a one-world government! We understand that. As we see it, we're beginning to be able to see and understand why Christ has to come and nearly destroy the earth, destroy the whole system of men and set up the Kingdom of God. These events are going to take place. All the prophecies that have been from the beginning of the world until now are going to happen and fall upon us. So, let's see what Jesus said in Luke 21, because we're seeing this now amplified even more and more!

Luke 21:7: "And they asked Him, saying, 'Master, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign that these things are about to take place?'"

In type it happened to Jerusalem in 69-70A.D. But the antitypical or the final fulfillment is going to happen in our day.

Verse 8: "And He said, 'Beware that you be not deceived…" Deception is a thing that's everywhere in the world! Hardly can a person tell the truth at all anymore, under any circumstances. That's rare to find. Likewise, in the field of Christianity of this world, and even Christianity within the Church of God:

• we have our problems
• we have the difficulties
• we have false prophets
• we have those coming in preaching strange doctrines, saying that they 'are the two witnesses,' saying that the end is ready right now

We know that the times are going to get difficult, but 'the end is not yet' because there are too many things that have to take place.

"…for many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am Christ'; and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore, do not go after them" (v 8).

Why? It's just like Paul told Timothy: There comes a time when they will not listen to the Truth! But 'having itching ears they will heap to themselves many teachers'; because they want to hear the things that please them, or excite them rather than be 'sola-scriptura' or that is be 'Scripturalist' and follow the Scriptures using all the Scriptures.

Verse 9: "And when you hear of wars and revolutions… [that's what's happening right now around the world] …do not be terrified; for it is necessary that these things take place first, but the end will not come immediately."

We need to understand that. Therefore, we look at v 8: don't go after them, the false prophets; the end is not immediately!

Verse 10: "Then He said to them, 'Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall also be great earthquakes in different places, and famines and pestilences; and there shall be fearful sights and great signs from heaven'" (vs 10-11). Those are about ready to happen; we will see that!

Verse 12: "But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you and shall persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors, for My name's sake. But it shall turn to you for a testimony" (vs 12-13).

This is what we need to realize with the events that are happening. All of these things give an opportunity:

• to preach the Word of God
• to teach the Word of God
• to help people find God

And as they have said in the political realm, 'never waste a good crisis'!

So, we've got all these crises upon us and God is using this to turn people to Him, to ask:

• What's happening?
• How's it taking place?
• Is this the end?
• What are we to do?
• How do I find the Lord?

What they're finding in the world is that all the politicians are liars, all the religionists are liars, even their friends and those whom they thought were friends are nothing but rank sinners. So, those things are that way—let it turn "…for a testimony."

Verse 14: "Settle therefore in your hearts not to premeditate what you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom that all those who are opposing you shall not be able to reply to nor resist" (vs 14-15).

This is why it's important that we have the Word of God in our minds and in our hearts, that we know it, that we study it; and most importantly: that we have a personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

• that's how we're going to be able to make it through these days
• that's how we're going to understand the events that are taking place

No other way! This Feast of Tabernacles is a very critical time for all of us.

Verse 16: "But you shall be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they shall put some of you to death."

We're seeing more and more a reaction against Christianity; a reaction against those who believe in the Bible. As a matter of fact, whether you know it or not, the definition for a 'terrorist' by Homeland Security is so broad that it includes all of us; because it includes:

• those who believe in Israel in prophecy
• those who believe that Jesus is returning
• those who believe that the Bible is the Word of God

—and they have labeled us as 'troublemakers.' But the truth is we are not the troublemakers.

What will happen is this: there will be some, in the name of God, take up arms; there will be some, in the name of God, think they are going to establish the Kingdom of God; but all of them are completely wrong! We have no part in violence; we have no part in trying to replace the government by human efforts!

Our part is that we are waiting for Jesus Christ to return and destroy all these government and we will replace them! We need to get that in mind and keep that in mind so that we understand how we can get through these times.

Verse 17: "And you shall be hated by all because of My name…. [and that's exactly true] …But not a hair of your head shall by any means perish. By your patient endurance you shall gain your lives" (vs 17-19). How do we patiently endure?

Let's see something that is absolutely true. Here is a true proverb, Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people perish…" You could also explain it this way:

• where there is no hope the people give up
• where there is no encouragement the people get down in the dumps and get depressed

When you look around and see all of these things taking place, we need to view them through the eyes of God; we need to view them with the vision that the Kingdom of God is coming! God has chosen us to be a part of that! God has:

• worked with us
• given us His Spirit
• given us His Word
• given us His understanding

—we're all under the blood of Jesus Christ and within the grace of God so that we can serve Him in truth, in wisdom and in spirit. That's the vision that we need to have. Also, notice the second part of this:

"…but happy is he who keeps the Law" (v 18). This also tells us that if you're keeping the Laws of God and have the Spirit of God and are under the grace of God—and we can add on to that:

• are keeping the Sabbath
• are keeping the Passover
• are keeping the Holy Days

—all of those things combined—that we will have vision and we will have peace of mind regardless of the circumstances that befall us! That's important for us to understand and realize.

Now, let's look at Abraham as it's recorded in Heb. 11. During the Feast we'll talk a little bit more about Abraham, but I want to cover one point in Heb. 11, because this is important for us to understand. When we realize how long that Abraham had to go in order to have some of the promises fulfilled to him. Remember, he 'died not having received the promise,' but he believed God; because not only did he have faith but he also had hope because he was trusting in God. So there's the example for us.

Hebrews 11:8: "By faith Abraham, being called of God to go out into the place, which he would later receive for an inheritance, obeyed and went, not knowing where he was going."

I want you to couple two words together: faith and obedience; you cannot have faith if you do not obey! Obedience to the Words of God, the laws of God, the commandments of God, are the works of faith as a result of believing what God said! So, Abraham obeyed!

"…not knowing where he was going" (v 8). We need to understand that, because we're all going to go through circumstances that we do not yet understand, that are coming!

We may have heard of them, but we haven't experienced them, and we do not have firsthand knowledge of it. We can read it in Scriptures. We can read it in the newspapers. We can do all of that sort of thing; but when it comes to firsthand experience that's a different story. Just like we're experiencing now in America and Britain—the troubles and throws that we're going through because of the economic difficulties—which is not….

As I explained to a man who wanted to know: 'Well, Obama this, Obama that, and Obama the other thing; it's an Obamanation!' I told him, 'Look, if you understand the Scriptures, you'll realize that Obama is there because he reflects the general condition of sins and attitudes of the American people.' So, Obama is not the problem; Obama is the punishment! because we've turned our backs on God, even in the Church of God; Protestantism/Catholicism are dying, and a lot of people who thought they had salvation; a lot of people who think 'my vision is the secret rapture'—what you need to understand is, no secret rapture is going to happen! That's a false delusion, given by men who misinterpret the Scriptures. We need to understand that.

Notice what Abraham did, v 9: "By faith he sojourned in the land of promise… [again, obedience; action] …like a foreigner, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs of the same promise." What Abraham did is very much like what we're picturing in the Feast of Tabernacles!

• Are we not doing the same thing?
• Are we not temporarily living in this world?

• God having called us, true
• having given us His Spirit, true
• has us living in the world, true

But we haven't received the promises; and those promises are eternal life and rulership with Jesus Christ! Along with the promises of giving us grace and favor:

• growing in character
• growing in knowledge
• growing in wisdom
• growing understanding
• qualifying to be in the first resurrection

Let's see the vision that Abraham had; and it wasn't for a little, teeny-weeny piece of real estate over there in Palestine. It's bigger than that! It's greater than that! It's greater than that!

Romans 4:13: "For the promise to Abraham, or to his seed, that he should be heir of the world… [it starts with the area in Palestine and expands out to the whole world] …was not given through law; rather, it was through the righteousness of faith." That is the righteousness of obedience; because:

• obedience and righteousness go hand-in-hand
• faith and obedience go hand-in-hand
• faith and righteousness go hand-in-hand.

It's all a part of the same thing!

Verse 17: "(Exactly as it is written: 'I have made you a father of many nations.')…"—yet, he only had one son! He saw Isaac, that was his son; then he saw Jacob for two years before he died—that was it!

"…before God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead…" (v 17).

Let's understand something: if we have the Spirit of God, if we are growing and overcoming, and if we endure to the end, death is not going to contain us! Death is not going to stop us! Just like Abraham, and he died at 175-years-old.

"…and calls the things that are not as though they are" (v 17). That's how God does it! That's what God is going to do. That's why we need to

• believe God
• believe the Words of God
• believe the Scriptures

• this is what gives us hope
• this is what gives us vision
• this is what gives us understanding

So that we can go through any difficulty, any trial, any circumstances that confront us!

Verse 18: "And who against hope believed in hope, in order that he might become a father of many nations…"

He won't see that completed until the first stage of it: the first resurrection, which he will be right there. Then he will see all the spiritual sons and daughters that were promised to him, those in the first resurrection! He will also be able to see from the Sea of Glass, looking down on the earth—as Christ shows him this nation and that nation and the other nation—all from his seed! That's going to be truly amazing!

"'…according to that which was spoken, 'So shall your seed be.' And he, not being weak in the faith, considered not his own body, already having become dead, being about one-hundred-years-old… [that's when Isaac was conceived] …nor did he consider the deadness of Sarah's womb" (vs 18-19).

Impossible odds! An impossible thing! I imagine you could set up, if you believed in gambling, in Las Vegas the odds of a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman conceiving and giving birth to a child. I don't know what the odds would be; a trillion to one? But remember, God says, 'nothing is impossible for the Lord.' That's what he was confronted with.

Lots of times, when we look around and see the things we are confronted with, and we see the things that are pressing in upon us—maybe even oppressing us—and we get all wrapped up in that and we get looking just at the circumstances right in front of our face and don't realize the vision, the picture, the hope! That's what the Feast of Tabernacles is all about.

Here's what he did; v 20: "And he did not doubt the promise of God through unbelief…"

So remember this: every promise of God will come to pass; everything that God has said. When you understand the Word of God and how it applies to us, they are all based upon promises! So, the Word of God, the Covenants of God and the things that God is doing are all:

• based on His promises
• based upon His existence
• based upon His righteousness
• based upon the fact that God cannot lie

"…rather, he was strengthened in the faith, giving glory to God; for he was fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is also able to do" (vs 20-21). God has the power and capacity to bring it to pass!

It's going to happen! The Kingdom of God is coming to this earth! We are going to rule and reign with Christ, and that's why we are here at the Feast of Tabernacles—and that's why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles—so that every year we can learn more of the plan of God, learn more of our part in it; realize how absolutely necessary that it is for the Kingdom of God to come and Jesus to return to the earth. And for those of us who are in the first resurrection to share in the government of Christ and rule this world! That's our destiny! That is what has been promised to us!

Verse 22: "As a result… [it has to be for us to] …it was also imputed to him for righteousness." You believe God and know it's going to happen! You obey God when He says to do this or that.

• How many people are there in the world who keep the Sabbath? That reduces it down!
• Then let's reduce it down: How many also keep the Passover? That reduces it down even more!

Let's reduce it down some more:

• How many keep the Holy Days of God?
• All of them?
• How many believe in the meaning and the understanding of them?

If you do, and you live your life that way, that is imputed to you for righteousness, and that is the righteousness of Christ given to you by God as a gift!

That's why we are not to concentrate on our weaknesses and shortcomings and things like this.

• that doesn't mean we don't have to take care of ourselves
• that doesn't mean we don't have to overcome
• that doesn't mean that we don't have to look to God for all of the circumstances that we are in

It means this:

• if you have this vision
• if you have this hope
• if you are working toward it
• if you are obedient to God
• if you love God and keep His commandments; and love Jesus Christ and keep the words that He has spoken

—that's imputed to you for righteousness unto eternal life!

Verse 23: "But it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; rather, it was also written for our sakes… [that's why we have the Bible] …to whom it shall be imputed—to those who believe in Him Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (vs 23-24). That's something!

• that's why we're here
• that's why we're doing what we're doing

Now, let's see how Jesus gave a tremendous vision to Peter, James and John to inspire them because God knew, Christ knew, that Peter, James and John—and especially Peter and John—because James was martyred early on—had to have a penetrating and mind-blowing experience to inspire them so that

• they would always be faithful
• that they would always preach the Word of God
• that they would always teach the things that He taught them

Matthew 17:1: "And after six days, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves."

Then they saw something that they only saw one time and never saw again. As we will see, Peter relates that this was to give them the vision to follow Christ and to do what they should do!

Verse 2: "And He was transfigured before them; and His face shined as the sun, and His garments became white as the light…. [that was an astonishing thing to see] (Then all of a sudden): …there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him" (vs 2-3).

I don't know if that's going to answer the question who's going to be on the right hand or left hand, but I do know that this represents the Law and the Prophets; also, as we will see, John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ.

Verse 4: "And Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You desire, let us make three tabernacles here: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.'"

Won't that be great? That's not the reason for the vision, but that was kind of Peter's reaction, because of it's one-time thing that happens, you want something for a memorial.

Verse 5: "While he was speaking, a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, 'This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I delight. Listen to Him!' And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces in extreme terror" (vs 5-6).

It just sent shivers down their spine and I imagine it was such a thing that they didn't know what to do! What an experience! This was an experience that was not only mental and visually, but it was an experience that literally went through their whole bodies, if we could put it that way, to make an impression on them forever.

Verse 7: "But Jesus came and touched them, and said, 'Arise, and do not be terrified.' And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus alone. Now as they were descending from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, 'Tell the vision to no one until the Son of man has risen from the dead'" (vs 7-9).

With that kind of experience, can you imagine how hard that was to keep that?—'tell no one!' Which was also what? A test of their faith, belief and obedience in Christ! That true? Think about that in relationship to all of those that Jesus healed when He said, 'Don't say anything to anyone.' They went out and said, 'Hey look, everyone, look at me! This man Jesus did it!'

Verse 10: "Then His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?'…. [because remember, there was Moses and Elijah] …And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Elijah shall indeed come first and restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him; but they did to him whatever they desired. In like manner also, the Son of man is about to suffer from them.' Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist" (vs 10-13).

What are we talking about here? The Law, the Prophets and Christ after John the Baptist prepared the way! That's what we're looking at. Let's look and see the power that this left upon Peter; because he wrote about it twice.

1-Peter 5:1—notice what he's basing his instructions to the elders, because remember, Jesus—after He was resurrected—had a special message for Peter. Remember that?

'Peter do you love Me?' Yes, Lord. 'Feed My sheep. Peter, do you love Me?' Yes, Lord. 'Shepherd My lambs. Peter, do you love Me?' Yes, Lord! 'Feed My sheep.'

Between the two of those: between the vision of transfiguration and that session that Jesus had with him—in front of all the disciples as well, by the way—here's what he writes:

1-Peter 5:1: "The elders who are among you I exhort, even as a fellow elder, and an eyewitness of the sufferings of Christ… [what he went through] …and a partaker of the glory that is about to be revealed."

That was the glory of the vision of Christ where His 'face shines like the sun' and His garments were white, just like electrical white. Then he gives them instructions concerning how to serve and feed the flock.

2-Peter 1—let's see how this was the guiding inspiration for what he wrote and what the apostles wrote. Remember, the Apostle Paul saw Jesus Christ and was taught of Him for three-and-a-half years. That was also the impression, and with the power of God's Spirit, that motivated Paul to do what he did, and to write what he wrote.

Likewise, Peter says this here, concerning himself. He knew that he was going to die. He knew that he was going to see the end. So he writes this to the brethren. This is why we need to understand: God is smart enough to understand that you don't leave the precious words of Christ and the teachings to the apostles and all of their experiences that they went through, as they were led by the Holy Spirit, to go out and preach and teach; you don't leave that to 'tradition.' You don't leave that to "handing down oral repetition' of it; because sooner or later someone's going to get in the line and mess it up or forget. Notice what God inspired him to do:

2-Peter 1:13: "For I consider it my duty, as long as I am in this tabernacle… [we'll talk about the tabernacles of our bodies here a little later] …to stir you up by causing you to remember these things; knowing that shortly the putting off of my tabernacle will come, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has signified to me" (vs 13-14).

Remember, he was told 'when you're young, Peter, you went where you wanted to, do what you want to do; when you're old someone's going lead you about by the hand.'

Verse 15: "But I will make every effort that, after my departure, you may always have a written remembrance of these things in order to practice them for yourselves." That's why we have the Word of God today!

Now then, he says a very important thing, which the scholars of this world need to realize and understand:

Verse 16: "For we did not follow cleverly concocted myths as our authority, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His magnificent glory." 'We saw it.'

That was his vision; that's what motivated him and this is what needs to motivate us. And the Word of God that we now have—the complete Word of God—that they never had. That ought to motivate us.

Verse 17: "Because He received glory and honor from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, 'This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I am well pleased.'"

Remember that if we have this hope, we have this vision, and we love God and keep His commandments, we are doing the things that are pleasing in His sight, as well. That's what the Apostle John wrote in 1-John 3.

• don't be discouraged
• don't get depressed
• don't get down
  • regardless of what the trial may be
  • regardless if you're facing something that is life-threatening
  • regardless if there's something that has shattered your life's emotions

Always turn to God! Look to God!

• ask Him for the vision
• ask Him for the help
• ask Him for the strength

Verse 18: "And this is the voice from heaven that we heard when we were with Him on the Holy mountain. We also possess the confirmed prophetic Word…" (vs 18-19).

That means the inspired Word spoken by Christ, and the 'confirmed prophetic Word' that Jesus 'inspired us to write.' That's what he's saying.

"…to which you do well to pay attention…" (v 19). Too many people let it slip by; too many people let it go!

• they don't pay attention
• they don't have the zeal
• they don't have the drive
• they get all in the rut of the humdrums and the routine

They get their lives all focused around just the little physical things or problems that they are involved in, and they don't keep their mind on the goal and the vision. They don't look to God for the hope and the strength. This is why he wrote it.

"…you do well to pay attention, as to a light shining in a dark place…" (v 19) Is not this world in a dark place right now?And it's getting darker and darker and darker! That's how we need to look at it.

Have you ever been in Carlsbad Caverns or a cave—if there's no light you see nothing! Nothing! You can put your hands right up over your face and you can't even see your fingers it's so black. But if someone turns on a light—'oh, now I can see.' This is how we need to look at the Word of God concerning that.

"…as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns… [the return of Christ] …and the morning star arises in your hearts" (v 19)—that's the resurrection! When we look at the Word of God understand this for sure:

Verse 20: "Knowing this first… [this is the primary thing you need to understand]: …that no prophecy… [inspired utterance or writing] …of Scripture originated as anyone's own private interpretation."

So always remember two things concerning the Word of God: If God could make Baalim bless, when his heart's desire was to curse, and if God could make a donkey talk, don't you think that God could inspire the 40 men who wrote the Old and New Testament. As a matter of fact, in the New Testament, do you realize that only 8 men wrote the New Testament?

Don't you think that God has the power to inspire them? Give them the God-breathed words, as Paul wrote? 'All Scripture,' he says—and that means each and every single one—is God-breathed; even the ones that we would consider the dull and boring genealogies; because this gives us the legal genealogy down to Christ. It tells us where Israel is today, if we'll just wakeup and pay attention to it. Not anyone's own 'private interpretation.'

Verse 21: "Because prophecy was not brought at any time by human will, but the Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

The Holy Spirit is the power of God. The Holy Spirit is the Truth of God. The Holy Spirit, Jesus said, would 'guide them to understand the things that are to come' and that also has to guide us.

• that gives the understanding
• that gives us the wisdom
• that gives the Truth
• that gives us the hope
• that gives us the vision

So, this is why we're here. This is why we are here at the Feast of Tabernacles.

Notice the vision that is given to us in Isa. 25, and the inspiration and assurance that we need.

Isaiah 26:1: "In that day… [the day of salvation] …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… [that's us] …one that is faithfully keeping Truth'" (vs 1-2).

That's how it needs to be; faithfully keeping Truth, seeking the Truth, changing, growing, overcoming every day. It doesn't matter what your age is, because they now know that the brain can function, work, change, and you can learn new things regardless of your age. All you have to do is apply yourself and the more you apply yourself the more you will be able to do it. So don't say, 'Oh, I'm so old.' Don't say, 'Oh, I've been through so much.' Rather, cast aside all of those things that hold you back, and keep the vision. That's what it is, right here.

Verse 3: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You… [that's where we're looking to, God the Father and Jesus Christ] …because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever; for God the LORD is the everlasting Rock" (vs 3-4).

Notice what He's going to do. This is going to happen when He returns. You don't have worry about the events in the world. God knows them! You don't have worry what's going to happen. God is going to make it come to pass. All that works together for good in bringing around the coming of the Kingdom of God. But notice what's going to happen when Christ returns.

Verse 5: "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."

God is going to take care of it. That's why we're 'terrorists,' because the world and Satan doesn't want another force coming in to take over. But it's going to happen!

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" (vs 6-7).

That means you can have calmness and peace of mind through any troubles and difficulties.

Verse 8: "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." That's the kind of desire we need to have toward God, because He has that toward us!

Verse 9: "With my soul I desired You in the night; yea, with my spirit within me I will seek You earnestly… [that needs to be our reaction to God] …for when Your judgments are in the earth, the people of the world will learn righteousness." That's quite a promise! That's something!

Psa. 118 is a tremendous Psalm, very inspiring, because it contains all the elements that we have covered up to this time.

Psalm 118:1 "O, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good because His steadfast love endures forever."

Always remember that regardless of what you're going through, regardless of what your life is, remember this: God loves you! You may not grasp it. You may have never heard that before. You may be wondering: what are these people doing here at the Feast of Tabernacles. Well, just listen up, pay attention, you'll find out! God loves you!

Verse 2: "Let Israel now say that His steadfast love endures forever. Let the house of Aaron now say that His steadfast love endures forever…. [it's repeated over and over again] …Let those who fear the LORD now say that His steadfast love endures forever. I called upon the LORD in distress…" (vs 2-5).

That's what God wants us to do, because He'll rescue us. He'll watch over us. If you don't believe that, just put in your notes Psa. 91 and read that.

"…the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side…" (vs 5-6). Think of that!

• Can you have anybody greater?
• Fight for you?
• Do for you?
• Give you vision and hope and understanding?
• No, of course not!

"…I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (v 6).

The only thing they can do is take your physical life. That's what they can do. Maybe a little pain and torture before then, but what else can they do? Nothing!

Verse 7: "The LORD takes my part with those who help me; therefore I will see my desire upon those who hate me."

Sooner or later they will pay the price; whether before Christ returns or whether in the second resurrection, hopefully, they'll repent. But if not, that's going to be the end.

Verse 8: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Don't worry about what the politicians are doing, because the politicians can't solve the problem! It's the people that have to repent! And it's us who have to repent and get close to God, so we can trust in Him.

Verse 9: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to trust in princes." Notice the circumstances. Even if the whole world is against you, remember this:

Verse 10: "All the nations surround me, but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them…. [that's a direct reference to Christ] …They surround me; yea, they surround me, but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. They surround me like bees; they are extinguished like the fire of thorns, for in the name of the LORD I will cut them off" (vs 10-12). That all happens at the return of Christ!

Verse 13: "You have thrust hard at me so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous… [the vision and the hope of the Feast of Tabernacles] …the right hand of the LORD does mighty things. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly. I shall not die, but live and declare the works of the LORD" (13-17). 

What do you think we're going to do in the Millennium after we're resurrected?

• we're going to declare the works of the Lord
• we're going to teach them the way of God
• we're going to bring them the Truth of God
• we're going to show them how they can live their lives rightly
• how to repent
• how to change

And all the blessings of God will be poured out upon the earth in such an abundance it will be absolutely incredible!

Verse 18: "The LORD has sorely chastened me; but He has not given me over to death…. [a prophecy of Christ] …Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the LORD" (vs 18-19).

That's what we're going to do when we're resurrected. We're going to go through the 'gates of righteousness' right on the Sea of Glass. Later, when Christ builds His temple that is on earth, He's going to build one, and it's going be a tabernacle. It's not going to be some grandiose temple; but it's going to be awesome, indeed! Not like some people foolishly say, 'Well, when the Jews build the temple Jesus is going to return to it and cleanse it.' Nonsense! That one is going to be destroyed. He's not coming to that one. He's going to bring His own tabernacle.

Verse 20: "This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have heard me and have become my salvation" (vs 20-21). The whole world's going to wonder:

• What's happening?
• What is this that's taking place?

Verse 22 answers the question: "The Stone which the builders refused has become the Head Stone of the corner." Christ will be King over all the earth! and we'll rule and reign with Him!

Verse 23: "This is from the LORD; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day, which the LORD has made… [Yes! and nothing like it can compare to it.] …we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech You, O LORD; O LORD, I beseech You, cause us to prosper now" (vs 23-25)—which He will! These will be the prayers all during the Millennium.

Verse 26: "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD…"—and we will be coming in the name of the Lord to teach and train and to show people how to live!

"…we have blessed You out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD Who gives light to us. Bind the sacrifice with cords even unto the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" (vs 26-29).

This is the vision that we need to have, brethren! This is the vision of why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

Have a good Feast, have a wonderful time, but make sure that you connect with God all during the time that you're hear; and all the brethren to fellowship with.

Scriptural References:

• Luke 21:7-19
• Proverbs 29:18
• Hebrews 11:8-9
• Romans 4: 13, 17-24
• Matthew 17:1-13
• 1-Peter 5:1
• 2-Peter 1:13-21
• Isaiah 26:1-9
• Psalm 118:1-29

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• 1 John 3
• Psalm 91

FRC: bo
Transcribed: 7-15-09
Reformatted/Corrected: 6/2020