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Pentecost — Day
50 PM Service
"Is Pentecost a Harvest Feast and Why Trumpets
is Not"
Fred R. Coulter—June 8, 2008
Greetings, Brethren! In order to cover all the things
concerning Pentecost we really need two services on the Feast of Pentecost;
so between Day 49 and Pentecost we ought to be able to get all three of the
messages in.
Now there has been a great consternation in some of the
Churches of God because we believe and preach that Pentecost pictures the
first resurrection and is the harvest of the firstfruits. While those
churches who object to that and do not understand some of the flows of the
prophecies in the book of Revelation because of that, they do acknowledge
that in the Old Testament, Pentecost is a harvest feast.
Let’s examine the Feasts of God. First of all we have
the Passover, which is a Feast but not a Holy Day. And that day is required
so that we have the proper Sacrifice of God, Jesus Christ—so that we can
approach Him. Because no one can come to God without a sacrifice! You
must have a sacrifice! That’s why Jesus said in the New Testament, “No one
can come to the Father except through Me.” You must accept the
sacrifice and blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins—upon repentance to God. And remember this: Only God can forgive
sin. So this is why it starts out with the Passover.
Then we have the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now, the
Feast of Unleavened Bread is not a harvest feast completely—but there is one day, that is a harvest day which we
will cover here in just a little bit: The Wave Sheaf Offering Day. And then
whatever days that are not Holy Days during the rest of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, they can begin the harvest. Then we have the Feast of
Firstfruits, which is Pentecost—which is a wholly, as I will point out
w-h-o-l-l-y, completely a harvest feast.
Now we come to the Feast of Trumpets; and please note
this: There is no Scripture in all the Bible—Old Testament or New
Testament—which shows that Trumpets is a harvest feast.
Likewise, with the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement is not a harvest feast, but the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day are
the one harvest—the great harvest of God at the end.
Now, let’s notice a similarity here between the first
three Holy Days: Passover, Unleavened Bread and Pentecost—and that has to do
with the Church. So then we have Trumpets and Atonement—which has to do not
only with the Church, but primarily with the world after Jesus Christ
returns; and then, through Atonement, the sacrifice of Christ is applied to
the whole world, and is not applied to the whole world until that time. Then
that ushers in the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God
with the resurrected saints being kings and priests and ruling with Him. And
Then the Last Great Day is also a harvest feast, which then is
harvest from the point of view: the greatest harvest of all. And yet,
it is the least mentioned Feast day in the Bible.
So let’s come to Exodus 23 and let’s look at the Feasts of
God in review. And then we will look particularly at the commands concerning
Pentecost, even though we’ve examined them previously. And then we will look
into the New Testament and see the comparison; because:
- We have the Passover meaning of the Old Testament; we have the Passover
meaning of the New Testament.
- We have the Old Testament meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; we
have the New Testament meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- We have the Old Testament meaning of Pentecost;
but some people don’t believe that there is a New
Testament meaning to Pentecost, because they’re stuck in their corporate way
of believing things and thinking that one certain man only had the whole
truth on when the resurrection was to take place. And so they shift the
resurrection to the Feast of Trumpets.
Let me ask you a question—which we’ll see later: When
the trumpet is blown, does it anywhere say, ‘Trumpets are
blown’? We’ll examine that a little bit later. And if the resurrection is on
the Feast of Trumpets and they’re to blow the ram’s horns and the trumpets
all day long, which trumpet then is the last one? And since they’re to blow
all day long, don’t you miss the whole day? And so therefore, the
resurrection would have to come after the day of Trumpets in
order to get to the last trumpet. So you see, we need to be consistent with
the Word of God. We need to be consistent with the parallels between the
meaning of the Feasts in the Old Testament and the spiritual meaning in the
New Testament and what God is doing.
So let’s begin here in Exodus 23:14: “You shall keep a
feast unto Me three times in the year…. [Can also mean three seasons]
… You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened
Bread…. [which we did] …You shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I
commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it
you came out of Egypt. And no one
shall appear before Me empty” (vs 14-15). Now, I think this is very
interesting because this is part of the Covenant that God gave to Israel
based upon the Ten Commandments. And as I mentioned: That each of the
Ten Commandments is the foundation for all of the sub-laws in the Old
Testament. And it is the Sabbath which sanctifies the meaning and
relationship of all the Feasts of God. That’s why Leviticus 23 is written in
the way that it is, starting out with the Sabbath. So here it says, ‘you
shall keep it.’
Verse 16: “Also the Feast of the Harvest of the
Firstfruits of your labors… [Now, the Feast of the Harvest of the
Firstfruits does not include all the firstfruits of every plant. This is
just the firstfruits of the harvest of the wheat and the barley—not the
firstfruits of the grapes and wine, not the firstfruits of the orchard
trees, not the firstfruits of the nut trees, not the firstfruits of any of
the fall harvest. But those firstfruits were still to be brought to the
Levite and the priests. Because, it says ‘do not hesitate to bring your
firstfruits.] …the Feast of the Harvest of the Firstfruits of your labors,
which you have sown in the field.… [So that’s grain] …And the Feast of
Ingathering… [which then is the Feast of Tabernacles] …in the end of the
year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field Three
times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD. You shall
not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread… [with the one
exception, as we will see a little later] …neither shall the fat of My
sacrifice remain until the morning. The first of the firstfruits of
your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God”
(vs 16-19). Very important, because that is the first of the
firstfruits, the very first ripe of the firstfruits then has to do with the
Wave Sheaf Offering; and has to do in the New Testament with the ascension
of Jesus Christ to heaven, to be accepted by God for us, for the Sacrifice
for our sins.
Now let’s come to Exodus 34. Now, it’s very interesting:
Exodus 32, the children of Israel, under the direction of Aaron, made the
golden calf and sinned against God. God didn’t come along and say, ‘Well
now, I understand why they rebelled, and what I’m going to do, to make it
easy for them is, I’m going to allow them to have a certain amount of
idolatry.’ That would make it easy for them. That would go along with what
they feel. But God didn’t do that. After they had sinned, and after Moses
had intervened to ask God not to destroy them—because God said He would,
every one of them—and because of his importunity and mediation toward God,
then God spared Aaron and most of the children of Israel. And only those who
were directly involved paid the penalty of death.
So let’s come here to Exodus 34:17. Now notice, right
after they made the golden calf, and He obliterated it—He had Moses
obliterate it—destroy those who were involved, He didn’t budge
one-septillionth of an inch away from His law. “You shall make no molten
gods for yourselves…. [Because that’s what they just did—and sinned.] …You
shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened
bread seven days, as I commanded you, in the time of the month Abib, for in
the month Abib you came out from Egypt. All that opens the womb is Mine; all firstlings of male livestock, of oxen or sheep. But the firstling
of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you do not redeem it, then
you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem.
And none shall appear before Me empty” (vs 17-20).
Now, we’re going to see that there is a parallel
between firstfruits and firstborn—and in the New Testament are used to
explain the same thing. Then it talks about—v 21: “You shall work six days,
but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you
shall rest. And you shall observe the Feast of Weeks… [which is Pentecost]
…of the firstfruits of wheat harvest… [So it’s the wheat and barley
harvest—all the other fruits were to be brought in and given to the Levites
and priesthood; all the firstfruits. But they were not counted for this
Feast of Pentecost, and there’s a reason: because the harvest feast Jesus makes great detail in explaining about it, as we will see later.] …and
the Feast of Ingathering at the year’s end. Three times in the year shall
all your males appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel” (vs 21-23).
Now let’s come to Leviticus 23—let’s see the command
concerning the beginning of the harvest and the command concerning the end
of the harvest, which then is 50 days later on the day that we call Pentecost. And Pentecost is called Pentecost because Pentecost
means fiftieth. And a variation of the term can mean to count 50. So let’s pick it up here in Leviticus 23:9: “And the LORD spoke to Moses,
saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, “When you have
come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it,
then you shall bring the premier sheaf of the firstfruits of your
harvest to the priest”’” (vs 9-10). This is the first of the firstfruits.
And they had a special place where they planted the barley so that for the
Wave Sheaf Offering Day that they would have the sheaf to cut. They would
cut it just as the Sabbath was ending, and they would take this special
sheaf and they would bring it and lay it alongside the altar of God so that
in the morning the priest could wave it. And all of that has its fulfillment
in the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ and the ascension of
Christ. So here, from the Old Testament, we have the type. Then in the New
Testament we have the antitype. So we have the first fulfillment; the second
fulfillment. Now if there’s a first fulfillment for this part of it, is
there not going to be a second, or New Testament fulfillment for the rest of
it? Have to be!
Verse 11: “And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD
to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall
wave it.” Then it gives all the things they were to bring in the temple
offerings that the priest was to offer with it. Verse 14: “And you shall eat
neither bread, nor parched grain, nor green ears until the same day, until
you have brought an offering to your God. It shall be a statute
forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” So after the
wave sheaf offering was waved, then they could start their harvest, as we
read in Deuteronomy 16. And they could also take the green ears and they
could that those and parch them, and then make a special flour out of that
for their meal offering.
Then it says here, counting Pentecost—we have covered
that so we won’t go through that again. Then it says, v 16: “Even unto the
day after the seventh Sabbath you shall number fifty days…. [Always the
first day of the week.] …And you shall offer a new grain offering to the
LORD.” Now, let’s focus in on this, because some of those who have objected
to what we’ve been teaching for a number of years now—actually, well over 20
years—they say, ‘Well, it doesn’t say that they wave the grain offerings on
Pentecost.’ Well now, we need to read carefully these following verses,
because the grain offering was waved—but not a sheaf.
Let’s read it: “You shall bring out of your homes two
wave loaves of two tenth parts…. [wave loaf—the loaf that they
baked—we’ll see here in a minute—was to be brought to the priest and the
priest would wave it. The priest would take his portion, the people would
take their portion and then they would have the feast.] …They shall be of
fine flour. They shall be baked with leaven…” (v 17). Now leaven,
when it is not the days of Unleavened Bread, is perfectly all right.
Let’s come back to Matthew 13, and we’ll come back here
to Lev. 23 in just a minute, because there is a good use of leaven. And when
you put leaven in the flour and let the dough rise, and then you put into
the oven, you have permanently changed the nature of the dough. And it
cannot go back. Matthew 13:33—and this is interesting because it has to do,
as we’ll see—we’ll come back to Matt. 13 a little later—has to do with the
harvest. And notice this]: “Another parable He spoke to them: ‘The kingdom
of heaven is compared to leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures
of flour until all was leavened.’” So He said the Kingdom of God is likened
unto leaven. So this is a good use of leaven. What is this likened to then?
It’s actually likened to the Holy Spirit, which then—in our minds, which is
the lump of dough—is changed and conformed to the will of God.
So there’s a good use of it. And that’s what these loaves, back in Lev. 23,
picture. The loaves are baked. The finished product, brought to God on the
Day of Pentecost; and they are waved to God to be accepted by Him. So yes,
there is a waving of the final product to God—the two loaves.
Now, let’s come back here to Leviticus 23—and let’s
continue on here, “…the two wave loaves, the two-tenths parts. They shall be
of fine flour…. [finely ground—and that’s a type of bringing out quality;
and that’s a type of getting rid of human nature, as it were.] …They shall
be baked with leaven… [now, notice what it says]: …They are the firstfruits to the LORD.” (vs 16-17). Firstfruits! So the
first of the firstfruits starts back here on the Wave Sheaf Offering Day.
And the final product of the grain symbolized by the two loaves is accepted
by God on Pentecost.
Now, why two loaves? Why not one loaf? Why not three
loaves? Why not five loaves? Two loaves. Each loaf
probably pictures this, symbolically: those who have been perfected and
ready for the acceptance of God in its finished form at the resurrection;
those who are counted worthy of the first resurrection in the Old Testament
and those who are counted worthy of the first resurrection in the New
Testament. So you have a completion—two!
Now, let’s see some other things concerning firstfruits
and how God applies that to Israel, in several different ways here. Let’s
come to Jeremiah, the second chapter, and let’s see what God says. Jeremiah
2:1—and we’ll see what God says of Israel; and let’s also understand
something concerning us. We are the Church, the spiritual Israel, of God.
All right, let’s read it: “And the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Go
and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘I remember
you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothals, when you went
after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holiness
to the LORD, and the firstfruits of His increase…. [Now,
firstfruits of all the nations that God dealt with. From the time of Adam
and Eve all the way down to the calling of Israel out of Egypt, God never
dealt with any nation accept Israel. And then we know the history of the ten
tribes being split off, and then the house of Judah. So God never dealt with
any other people. And He did not include the Gentiles completely until after
the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the preaching of the
Gospel. And we find that that began in Acts 10. After sending the Jews off
into captivity in 70 AD, God never dealt with any nation—only His
Church. And He only dealt with the nations of Israel in order to
fulfill the prophecies that He had given and the promises that He gave to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But He was not dealing with them for salvation.
You Need to understand that.] …Israel was holiness to the LORD, and
the firstfruits of His increase….’”’” (vs 1-3).
Now, let’s come to Romans 11, and let’s see where Paul
also refers to it in just a little bit different way—having to do with
Israel. And in this particular case, meaning focusing more on the Jews
rather than all 12 tribes, but not to exclude them. Romans 11:16: “Now if
the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if
the root is holy, the branches are also holy.” Now he
is using the firstfruit of God—that is the nation of Israel. Then he’s
talking about the lump is Holy. If the root is Holy, the branches are also
Holy. So he’s talking about everything altogether, starting with Israel
because it says here in v 15: “For if their casting away be the reconciliation of the world…” There the firstfruit is Holy. The Lump,
which then refers to the Church, is Holy; and if the root is Holy—going back
to the fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the laws and commandments of
God, the branches are also Holy. And so, he points out then that: “…if some
of the branches were broken off, and you… [referring to the Gentiles] …being
a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and you became a fellow
partaker of the root and of the fatness of the olive tree” (vs 16, 15, 17).
So in other words, the whole plan of God is one continuous thing—like a
tree, from the roots all the way up to the branches, all the way to the
fruit. That’s one way of showing it. Showing the continuity of Old and New
Covenant.
Now, let’s come to Matthew 13, and let’s see how the
harvest of the wheat is picturing the whole process of conversion and to the
end, which is the harvest. And it’s harvesting the firstfruits. Now let’s
come to Matthew 13 and let’s see the whole thing—this becomes really
important for us to understand. Matthew 13:10—after the disciples said,
“‘Why do You speak to them in parables?’ And He answered and said to
them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (vs 10-11). So it’s no
surprise that the people in the world don’t understand. And it is a surprise
that some people, even in the Church of God, don’t understand. And a lot of
that can be traced to the difficulties and problems that they have in not
relying on God the way that they should. They rely on God up to a certain
point, but then they don’t go beyond, and they put it in the hands of men
and a hierarchy to define it for them.
Now, come over here to v 35—with the parables that He
gives, and we’ll cover them here in just a minute. “So that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘I will open My mouth in
parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.’” Isn’t that something!
Brethren,
I want you to understand how fantastic it is for us
- to be able to have the whole Word of God
today,
- and to be able to have the time to
study.
- To be able to have the time to learn.
- To be able to have the time so God can
mold us and shape us and build His character within us.
- That we can be ready to be harvested at
the resurrection—because that’s what the resurrection pictures: the
harvest of the firstfruits.
And since
Pentecost is the harvest of the firstfruits, why would it seem a strange
thing that Pentecost would picture the first resurrection? Because it is the
celebration of the completed harvest. That’s why the two loaves. And there
is no Scripture which says Trumpets is a harvest feast. And the
parallel and the analogy of the Old Testament and New Testament flow
together—just like we read in Rom. 11 about the root, the trunk, the
branches, the tree.
So, let’s read on. Here is something that’s important,
Matthew 13:12: “For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be
given, and he shall have an abundance…” So if we really strive and seek
after the Truth of God, He’s going to give us understanding, according to
His will. And also we need to understand, that as we read earlier, that at
the end-time the wise will understand. So God has held off some of the
understanding until the time of the end. But nevertheless, we can learn from
these parables here. And we see this exactly happening in the world’s
Christianity—whatever understanding they have is being taken away. We see it
also happening in the some of the Churches of God. Whatever understanding
they have is being taken away.
And let me just say here: Unfortunately, in the Church of
God we are suffering from a number of really terrible false prophets.
One of them is in Jerusalem claiming to be one of the two witnesses. Well,
if he is, let’s see him bring down a curse, or plague, or stop the rain, or
cause it to flood anywhere in the world, by his word. And if he is, let’s
see if he can find the temple of God in Jerusalem, so he can be there and
show himself to be one of the two witnesses. He’s not! He’s a fraud! He’s a
liar! He’s a cheat! And God is going to expose him as such. And yet,
unfortunately, some brethren believe him and follow him. Have to say it so
that we know and understand that if you leave the Truth, whatever
understanding you have is going to be ripped right away from you and you’re
going to follow myths and you’re going to follow the lusts of men, and
you’re going to collapse in your own wretchedness.
Now, let’s go on here—v 12: “…‘but whoever does not
have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see
not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand. And in them is
fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, “In hearing you shall hear,
and in no way understand; and in seeing you shall see, and in no way
perceive; For the heart of this people has grown fat… [In other words, just
like a heart that is all clogged up with fat. It can’t work, it can’t think,
it can’t reason. Just like a physical heart can’t pump!] … and their ears
are dull of hearing… [I got a letter the other day from a man who said,
‘Boy, when I go to this church I am bored out of my gourd.’ Well, he’s no
longer attending that church.] …and their eyes they have closed; lest they
should see with their eyes, and should hear with their ears, and should
understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal
them”’” (vs 12-15). And that has to do with the overall plan of God, that if
there’s not repentance, He’s not going to deal with him. And if they don’t
believe God and believe Christ, if they’re not called, then He’s saving them
for another time. And we know that is The Last Great Day.
Now notice v 16—and this is a blessing we don’t want to
lose: “‘But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears,
because they hear…. [And we can also put in there, ‘if you hear then you
will have understanding.’] …For truly I say to you, many prophets and
righteous men have desired to see what you see, and have not seen;
and to hear what you hear, and have not heard” (vs 16-17). Now, let’s take
that from the time of the apostles and bring that forward to our day. We are
seeing and hearing things that they never heard of. And we are watching the
end-time prophecies being fulfilled in such a way that they could not even
have a glimmer of understanding concerning it. So, brethren, what we know
and understand is great and precious—so let’s realize that.
“Therefore, hear the parable of the sower [the grain]:
When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom and does not understand it,
the wicked one comes and snatches away that which was sown in his heart.
This is the one who was sown by the way. Now the one who was sown upon the
rocky places is the one who hears the Word and immediately receives it with
joy… [and, as I read this, I want you to think about your whole church
experience. New people coming into the Church; those who have been excited;
those who have maybe been there for quite a while; and think about how the
whole operation of the Church has been exactly like this parable. And we can
illustrate it this way: Think back to a time when there were many, many
people in the Churches of God, and ask yourself the question: where are they
today? And that will explain the parable to you.] …But because he has
no root in himself, he does not endure… [Because we are to endure to
the end.] …for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word,
he is quickly offended” (vs 18-21). Goes back to his old ways.
“And the one who was sown among the thorns is the one
who hears the Word, but the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of
riches choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful…. [‘Well, who is the Church
to demand 10% of my money?’ Well, it’s God Who demands it, not the Church.
But granted, there has been on the other hand, abuse of it.] (Now, let’s
hope this is us): …But the one who was sown on good ground, this is the one
who hears the Word and understands, who indeed brings forth fruit and
produces—one a hundredfold… [And you go back and read the account
about Isaac—that God blessed him with such crops that it was 100-fold. And
think about what Paul said about Isaac—that we, brethren, are like Isaac,
the children of promise. So let’s see if we can bring forth 100-fold.]
…another sixtyfold and another thirtyfold” (vs 18-23). And of course,
we know where it says later that he says, “Those of you who are blessed of
the Lord, enter into the Kingdom of your Lord.
“And He put another parable before them, saying, ‘The
kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was sowing good seed in his
field; But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat, and went away. [This is firstfruits, isn’t it? Wheat. Didn’t we read
in the Old Testament: ‘the end of your wheat harvest—Feast of Weeks.] …Now
when the blades sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared.
And the servants came to the master of the house and said to him,
“Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where did these tares
come from?” And he said to them, “A man who is an enemy has done
this.” Then the servants said to him, “Do you want us to go out and gather
them?” But he said, “No, lest while you are gathering the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the harvest;
and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, ‘Gather the tares
first, and bind them into bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my
granary’”’” (vs 24-30).
Now let’s see the explanation of it. Let’s jump down
here to another parable, which we haven’t covered yet. “Another parable He
presented to them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is compared to a tiny mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; Which indeed is very
small among all the seeds; but after it is grown, it is greater than all the
herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and roost in its
branches’” vs 31-32). [Then we read the one v 33.] (v 34): …Jesus spoke all
these things to the multitudes in parables, and without a parable He did not
speak to them; So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying, ‘I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things
hidden from the foundation of the world.’ And after dismissing
the multitude, Jesus went into the house. Then His disciples came to Him,
saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field’…. [Now this
gives us a good deal of understanding. And it also gives us a time-setting.]
…And He answered and said to them, ‘The one Who sows the good seed is
the Son of man [the seed of the Word of God]’” (vs 34-37). Now, that’s
different from the seed of God’s Holy Spirit. Because to hear the Word of
God and get excited about it and then fall away, does not mean they are
necessarily converted. Only those who receive the Word and then they are
converted and receive the seed of God’s Holy Spirit, they are the ones who
produce the fruit. So the Word is going out. This is the same thing as
saying, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ And the reason few are chosen
is because few repent.
“‘And the field is the world… [What did He tell the
apostles? ‘Go into all the world and teach nations all things that I have
taught you; making disciples of them and baptizing them into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all
things that I have commanded you.’ When I read that verse I can’t
understand how some evangelicals today can come up with the conclusion:
‘Well, Paul had a greater dispensation and understanding of the Word of God
than Jesus did, so we don’t need to follow the teachings of Jesus, that was
for the Jews only.’ Well, Jesus’ own words refutes that.] …and the good
seed, these are the children of the kingdom… [Are we the children of the
Kingdom? Yes!] …but the tares are the children of the wicked one….
[Are there children of the devil? Yes!] …Now the enemy who sowed them
is the devil; and the harvest is the end of the age…
[and the harvest is what? The resurrection, as we will see.] …and the
reapers are the angels” (vs 38–39). Now we read some of that this morning in
Matthew 24.
All right, let’s go on: “The Son of man shall send
forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom… [Because He’s
going to take over all the kingdoms of the world.] …all the offenders and
those who are practicing lawlessness; And they shall cast them into the
furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…. [That’s
what’s going to happen at the end of the age. They are either going to
submit to the authority of Jesus Christ and the saints, or they are going to
be obliterated! Now at the beginning of this, the angels are going to do
it—has to do also with the seven last plagues. So God is going to get rid of
ALL the armies of this world, and He is going to destroy them with the seven
last plagues. Now later, as we find out, they try and rebuild their
armies—Gog and Magog and come against Israel. But that’s another whole
topic.] …shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth” (vs 41-42). Where are the Beast and False Prophet
cast? Into the lake of fire! Right? Yes! Who casts them in
there? The angels do, just like Jesus said.
Part 2
Now let’s continue on,
we’ll finish up here in Matthew 13 and notice the final verse we want to
read here—v 43: “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Whenever you read that, that means that there’s much more to this than what
has been given here, so you listen to this, and you also put together the
rest of the Scriptures so you can come to a complete, whole understanding of
it. So, let’s do that.
- We’ve seen that it’s a harvest.
- We have seen that it’s
firstfruits.
- We have seen the connection between the
harvest and the resurrection, because it talks about it right here,
doesn’t it? Yes it does.
Now let’s see the
parallel for the harvest beginning with Christ and then us. Let’s come to
1-Corinthians 15:17: “But if Christ has
not been raised, your faith is vain… [But He has been raised. And
what was He? His resurrection and ascension pictured what? The Sheaf of
the firstfruits offering. The very first
harvest of those from the dead. Now, we’re going to see about the
firstfruits here, and then we’re going to see
about the firstborn—how that applies to Christ, and then how it applies to
us.] (v 18): …And those who have fallen asleep in Christ have then
perished. If in this life only we have
hope in Christ, we are of all people most miserable.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the first-fruit of those who have
fallen asleep” (vs 17-20). So this is
the fulfillment of the premier sheaf that the priest was to wave as
the instructions were given in Lev. 23.
Now, let’s read on: “For
since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in
Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruit… [Harvest! Right? Yes!] …then,
those who are Christ’s at His coming” (vs
21-22). And we’ll talk about His coming. That’s the rest of the harvest.
Just like we have the parallel back there in Lev. 23—the first wave sheaf
offering, and then we come to the completed harvest; and then we have the
final product, the two wave loaves brought to the priest. And they are waved
before the Lord to be accepted of the Lord. That’s a type of the first
resurrection.
Now, let’s see
something else here that’s important concerning us. Let’s come to James, the
first chapter, and let’s see where we are called a type of
firstfruits. Remember, James was the brother of
Jesus. So let’s pick it up here in James 1:18: “According to His own will,
He begat us by the Word of truth… [Now that’s the seed that was
sown.] …that we might be a kind of firstfruits
of all His created beings.” Now as we’ve already covered, we are
being created in the image of Christ right now. That’s important to realize.
So we are kind of a firstfruits. We are the rest
of the harvest: Christ the firstfruit, then
those who are His at His coming. That ties in and agrees exactly with Matt.
13.
Now let’s look at
something else concerning Christ and applied in another way. Let’s come to
Matthew 1:25—and we are going to see that this talks about Christ as the
firstborn. “But he [Joseph] did not have sexual relations with her
until after she had given birth to her son, the firstborn…” So Jesus
was Mary’s firstborn, and then we see later he had three other brothers and
he had some sisters—doesn’t say how many. So must for the lying doctrine of
the Catholic Church of the perpetual virginity of Mary. You just have to
understand, the religions of this world do not understand the Bible. Now
because they quote a Scripture here or there and sound very sanctimonious,
it gives the appearance that they understand the Bible, but they don’t. What
they try and do is say that the word ‘brother’ in Greek really means cousins. Well now, His brothers were not cousins, they were His
brothers. So much for the Truth!
Now, let’s come to
Colossians, the first chapter, and let’s understand something concerning
Jesus and being firstborn. He was firstborn in another way, as well.
Colossians 1:18—it talks about that right here. “And He is the Head of the
body, the church; Who is the beginning, the firstborn from
among the dead… [so we have the parallel. Firstfruit/firstborn.
One being the symbolism of the crop; one being the literal firstborn from
the dead. So Christ was firstborn of Mary and firstborn from among the
dead.] …so that in all things He Himself might hold the preeminence [before
God].”
Now, let’s come to
Hebrews, the first chapter—and here the King James has a
mistranslation of it, but here in book of Hebrews 1—it talks about Jesus
Christ and being firstborn, again. The King James has it ‘firstborn’
but it actually is ‘have begotten you’—that’s the day that He was begotten.
That’s not the verse that I wanted there. Let’s come to Revelation, the
first chapter then. Just a few pages over in the new order in the new Bible.
And I’m sure that when you get yours it will take you a little while to get
used to the new order. But once you get used to new order you’ll be able to
find your way around it just fine.
Now, let’s come to
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the
words of this prophecy and who keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand. John to the seven churches
that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is,
and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are
before His throne; And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the
Firstborn from the dead…” (vs 3-5). Now,
we read back in 1-Cor. 15: ‘Christ the Firstfruit’—here
we have the ‘Firstborn’—and that’s talking about the resurrection. Then it
says, ‘and afterward, those that are Christ’s at His coming.’
Now, let’s see also, as
we’ve covered earlier, let’s come back to Hebrews 12, that we are called
‘the church of the firstborn.’ Isn’t that interesting. The
firstfruits/the firstborn go hand-in-hand. Now
Hebrews 12:22: “But you have come to Mount Sion,
and to the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to
an innumerable company of angels; To the joyous festival gathering…
[That’s very important for us to understand, because when we are resurrected
and meet Christ in the air, we have to ask where and what will
that be?] …and to the church of the firstborn, registered in the book of life in heaven; and to God, the Judge of all; and
to the spirits of the just who have been perfected” (vs
22-23).
All right, let’s come
back to 1-Corinthians 15, and let’s see what it talks about concerning the
resurrection. And this gives us a good understanding of the resurrection. So
let’s follow along here. 1-Corinthians 15:34—where Paul writes: “Awake
to righteousness… [There are a lot in the
Church of God that that
is applicable today.] …and do not sin, for some of you do not have
the knowledge of God. I say this to your shame…. [And some of them
said, the resurrection’s already over because Christ was resurrected. So
what was coming into the Church? Everybody’s going to heaven. Isn’t
that something?] …Nevertheless, someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised? And with what
body do they come?’…. [Are you going to have the same body? Well, he’s
talking here about the first resurrection. He’s not talking here about the
second resurrection. We save that for the Last Great Day.] …Fool! What you
sow does not come to life unless it dies…. [And that’s what Jesus said of
Himself. A grain, if it is not planted and if it does not die, it does not
bear fruit—and He was referring to His life. But after His resurrection,
He’s bearing all the fruit that’s in the Church. So, it does not come to
life unless it dies and disintegrates and brings new life.] (v 37 [transcriber’s correction]): …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… [Because we
talked about the wheat harvest; we talked about the barley harvest, didn’t
we?] …And God gives it a body according to His will, and to each of
the seeds its own body” (vs 34-38).
I never cease to be
amazed, when you look out and see all the kinds of plants and all the kinds
of trees, fruit trees and nut trees, and you see everything that is grown
out of the ground—and the difference is contained in the seed. Out of the
same soil will come something sweet; will come something bitter; will come a
fruit, will come a nut, will come a grape, will come an apple or an orange.
And all of that is because God put it in the seed! So
likewise, if we have the seed of God in our minds, and we die in the faith,
when we are resurrected it’s not going to be the same physical body—it’s
going to be a spiritual body. And that’s what he’s explaining here in 1-Cor.
15.
Verse 39: “Likewise,
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” (vs
39-41). So he’s drawing the comparison here and likening that to the
resurrection. Now what did Jesus say that the saints? Would be
resurrected, the good seed, and they would shine in glory like the sun in
the Father’s Kingdom. So here, Paul is following right along with
further explanation of what Jesus meant.
Verse 42: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption… [We all grow
old and die.] …it is raised in incorruption.” Because, you see, everything
that you are is contained in the spirit in man and the Spirit of God; and
when you die, the body dies, but the spirit, not having consciousness goes
back to God. Because the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, cannot have
consciousness until it is in a mind and body. So that’s why it says in Heb.
12, ‘to the spirits of just men made perfect.’ And being dead is likened to
sleeping, as we will see. So there’s no memory, there’s no activity there;
it’s just like the recording that we are doing here. This recording, by
itself—the CD by itself—is not worth very much. You’ve got to have a CD
player to put it into to play. Then you have to have the energy and power to
make it work. So likewise the resurrection. The perfected spirit of man with
God’s Spirit, with us, is stored by God for the resurrection. Now, where
He’s storing it, that’s up to Him. He doesn’t tell us every one of His
secrets. But we can believe Him that it’s in safekeeping.
Verse 43: “It is sown
in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in
power. It is sown a natural body; it is
raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual
body” (vs 43-44). So that’s what we’re going to
have when we’re resurrected—spiritual body. No more limitations of the
flesh. Won’t that be nice? No more problems that we have of over-weight, or
under-weight, or too tall, or too short, or whatever it may be. God is going
to bless us with a spiritual body, with no flaws.
“Accordingly,
it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul; the last Adam became an ever-living Spirit.’
However, the spiritual was not first, but the natural—then the
spiritual” (vs 45-46). And I might just
interject here: One of the doctrines of Gnosticism, which is also a main
belief of the Mormon Church, is that we all existed in the stars as spirits
first. And that’s why they have to have lots of children, so that the
spirits can come down and possess the children. No! The physical, natural
body was first, then the spiritual.
“The first man is of the earth—made of dust…. [not from the stars in heaven] …The second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the one made of dust; so also are all those who are made of dust; and as is the
heavenly one, so also are all those who are heavenly…. [Now
notice, here is a tremendous promise, and never forget this]: …And as
we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall also bear
the image of the heavenly one. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,
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, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed” (vs 47-52). Notice, he does not say trumpets. Singular: the trumpet shall sound.
Go back and carefully
read Numbers 10, Every Holy Day the trumpet was to be sounded. On the Feast
of Trumpets, the trumpets—all trumpets and ram’s horns—were blown all day
long. Now, remember what we covered concerning Pentecost and the giving of
the law. What happened? There was the clouds, the thunder, the lightning,
the whirlwind and the trumpet blasting long and loud! And who was
standing down at the foot of Mt. Sinai? Israel, the firstfruit
of God. And standing is symbolic
of being resurrected. So we have the parallel between that—and as we covered
in the sermon From Mt.
Sinai to Mt. Sion. “…for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”
(v 52).
Now, we’re going to
read another one where it is not talking about trumpets, but
trumpet. We’re going to see three other references to the trumpet. Paul
calls it “the last trumpet.” Now, where do we find the “last
trumpet”?—specifically numbered and then something happens at that last
trumpet. We’ll see here in just a little bit.
Let’s go on, let’s come to
the book of Revelation; because we want to get the timing again, so we want
to have the timing of the return of Christ, and then we will bring in the
trumpet again at the appropriate time. Let’s come to Revelation 6 and let’s
just review the last part of it, when the sixth seal opens and the heavens
are rolled back as a scroll and they see the Son of man. And as we said,
everything will be changed. And the whole world is going to see this:
heavens rolled back as a scroll. And they are going to see all the things
that take place.
Verse 14: “Then the heaven departed like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain
and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, and the
great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the powerful men,
and every bondman, and every free man hid themselves in the caves and
in the rocks of the mountains; And they said to the mountains and to the
rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb…’” (vs
14-16). Is this the sign of the Son of man that Jesus talked about? This is
a sudden occurrence that takes place in heaven. Correct? Yes! Where
else is this described? Back in Matt. 24.
Matthew 24—let’s review
this again. We’re going to see the return of Christ takes place suddenly! It
is known, but not suddenly that He comes directly to the earth; because
there are a great many things that need to happen before He comes to the
earth—and God is going to give plenty of warning. That the whole world will
know that this the return of Jesus Christ.
All right, Matthew
24:29: “But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall
be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light… [Exactly as we read back
there in Rev. 6] …and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of
the heavens shall be shaken. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of
man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they
shall see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory” (vs 29-30). Now, that also ties in
with Rev. 1, that every eye is going to see Him. All the tribes of the earth
will morn and wail because of Him. But what is this going appear like, when
it’s in heaven?
All right, v 27—here’s
how the sign of the Son of man appears: “For as the light of day, which
comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so
also shall the coming of the Son of man be.” Now that has to be the sixth
seal in Rev. 6, beginning in v 12 to the end of it. And it’s going to be
there.
Now, as I pointed out
yesterday, that it shines—and the Greek means as the sun or moon and
stars; and it also means a flash of light. So this is going to
take place instantly and that’s when the heavens roll back as a scroll. The
light shines in a great flash, and then continues shining as if it’s another
sun that was never seen before—and continues there. Now, I have said that
perhaps this takes place on the next to the last Pentecost, because then
right after that is when the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude are
sealed. And they come out of great tribulation. So when that takes place,
there’s going to be mass repentance and mass conversion.
So let’s continue on
here. Let’s come down to v 31: “And He shall send His angels… [and it
doesn’t mean immediately, because we’ll see the timing between v 30 & v 31,
there are many things yet to take place before the harvest.] …with a great
sound of a trumpet… [notice: a trumpet—not a day-long blasting
of trumpets. It is a particular trumpet. Paul says, it is the
last trumpet. Now, if it was the last trumpet of trumpets being sounded all
day long, on the Feast of Trumpets, then as I mentioned, then you’re already
to the end of the Feast of Trumpets. And those who believe in a resurrection
of the Feast of Trumpets, cannot happen until the last trump, and that
trumpet would not be sounded until the end of the day. So the resurrection
couldn’t take place until after Trumpets. That’s why the parallel of the
harvest of the firstfruits must be on Pentecost.
We have the next to the last Pentecost, when the 144,000 (Rev. 7) and the
great innumerable multitude are sealed. Comes around one year later and then
we have the harvest at the last trump.
When you read the
account of the workers in the field and where it was that the master of the
field went out to the men gathered around the marketplace and said, ‘Do you
need the work.’ Yes. ‘Well, go out into my field and I will pay you
thus-an-such for working.’ And he came back at different times during the
day and at the eleventh hour of the day he came back and there were still
some there waiting to be hired. And he said, ‘Go work in my field—even
though it’s the eleventh hour—and I’ll pay you what’s right.’ So when it
came time to pay all the workers, he started with the last and paid them the
same as those who worked in the heat of the day. And those who worked in the
heat of the day began complaining: ‘Why are you giving them the same amount
that you’re giving us. Didn’t we bear the heat of the day.’ And he said,
‘Well, I can do with I own what I desire.’
But the point of it is:
there are going to be last minute converts. And they will be converted for
one year. Prior to that we had the martyrdom. There are those who are still
in the place of safety, still alive. Now, God adds to it the 144,000 and
great innumerable multitude. And since the Church started on Pentecost, and
now here we have the first of the giving of the Holy Spirit to those with
the appearance of the sign of the Son of man in heaven—the 144,000 and great
innumerable multitude. So he’s going to send them out with the sound of the
trumpet and “…and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds,
from one end of heaven to the other” (v 31).
Let’s come to
1-Thessalonians, the fourth chapter, and let’s review that again. I know we
already covered it, but sometimes we need to cover it from several different
perspectives so we make sure that we get everything in, because there are a
lot of events that are going to take place when the resurrection occurs and
all the time leading up to the resurrection. But the point I want to make
here is this: Nowhere does it show that Trumpets is a harvest feast. Nowhere
does it show that it’s the last trumpet blown on the Feast of
Trumpets—because trumpets are blown all day long. When you really analyze
the Feast of Trumpets, it is a war feast. And yes, it does involved
the last part of the return of Christ and the saints. But the first part of
the return of Christ starts out with the heavens ripping open and rolling
back as a scroll—and then the sign of the Son of man appearing as a great,
shining light. And because the earth is turning on its axis, then it looks
like it’s shining from the east to the west. Although it starts out with a
brilliant blasting light.
Now, 1-Thessalonians [transcriber’s correction] 4:15:
“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… [Now the ones who are alive at the coming of
the Lord, are the 144,000, the great innumerable multitude and those who are
in the place of safety.] …Because the Lord Himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout of command… [which it will; heavens will roll
back as a scroll, they’ll see the sign of the Son of man in heaven—and it
will be there from the time of Rev. 6:12—which is just about another year
and four months until the Trumpets when Christ and His saints return to the
earth. So it’s going to be up there for an extended period of time. Now the
resurrection does not take place when the sign of the Son of man appears in
heaven. That comes one year later.] …with the voice of an archangel
and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first…
[Now, you need other Scriptures to put in the timing of sequence when those
events will take place.] …Then we who are alive and remain… [We’re not going
to precede those who have died.] …shall be caught up together with them…
[that is by the angels] …in the clouds… [that’s in the first heaven]
…for the meeting with the Lord in the air… [And as we saw in
Heb. 12, the meeting is the festival gathering. And that festival gathering
has got to be the last Pentecost.] …and so shall we always be with the Lord” (vs 15-17).
So again, we find a
trumpet, the last trumpet, a trumpet. Nowhere do we find the Feast of
Trumpets associated with the resurrection. But we do find it [the
resurrection transcriber’s insert for clarity] associated with
the harvest, with the reaping, with the parallel between Christ as the
firstfruits and those of us who are the Church
of the Firstborn. And we are the firstfruits of
Christ right now and the harvest will be, as He said, at the end of the age.
Now, let’s come to the
book of Revelation again and let’s see when that trumpet is blown, because
there’s only one ‘last trumpet.’ And there is only one trumpet that is blown
for the resurrection, and that does not take place in Rev. 19 as Christ is
coming back to the earth. He’s going to show Himself in the heavens. The
sign of the Son of man is going to be there. Then when it comes down in time
from that point, this is where we pick it up in the book of Revelation
again, after the 144,000 and great, innumerable multitude, then we have
chapter eight.
So let’s read
Revelation 8:1—and we will see what it tells us: “Now when He opened
the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half
hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets
were given to them…. [So now we have a definitive number—seven. Now, let’s
understand something: These angels did not blow all seven trumpets at the
same time. They’re blown in sequence, beginning with the first down to the
last. All right, we’ll see that.] …And another angel, who had a golden
censer, came and stood at the altar; and much incense was given to him, so
that he might offer it with the prayers of all the saints on the
golden altar that was before the throne.
And the smoke of the incense went up
before God from the hand of the angel, ascending with the prayers of
the saints. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire
from the altar, and cast it into the earth; and there were voices,
and thunders, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to
sound their trumpets. And the first angel… [not all seven at once]
…sounded his trumpet…” (vs 1-7)—and it
explains what happened with that.
Verse 8: “Then the
second angel sounded his trumpet…”—and it explains what happened with
that. Verse 10: “And the third angel sounded his trumpet…”—so it’s in
sequence. And we’re coming down to the last trumpet. Verse 12: “Then the
fourth angel sounded his trumpet…” Revelation 9:1: “And the fifth
angel sounded his trumpet…” And then we find here v 13: “And the
sixth angel sounded his trumpet…” Now, when do we see another trumpet
blown? We’ll explain all about this because this has to do with introducing
the events that take place leading up to the actual return of Christ and the
saints on the earth.
We don’t find it in
Revelation 10, do we? In Revelation 10 we have the seven thunders. We don’t
know what they are because John was not allowed to write it. So let’s come
over here to Revelation 10:7: “But in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he is about to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God
shall also be completed, according to the gospel that He declared to
His servants the prophets.” Now when is that seventh trumpet sounded?
We come over here to
Revelation 11—the first part of it is an inset talking about the temple and
the two witnesses and what they do. Now, after they are killed and they have
been lying in the streets in Jerusalem, after their ministry of 1260 days,
they lie in the streets of Jerusalem 3-1/2 days—v 11: “Then after the three
and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them and
they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching
them. And they heard a great voice from heaven, say, “Come up here!” And
they ascended into heaven in a cloud… [the first heaven] …and their enemies
saw them rise. And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a
tenth of the city fell; and seven thousand men were killed in the
earthquake. And the rest were filled with fear, and gave glory to the God of
heaven. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming immediately. Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet… [that’s the last
trumpet. Now, notice what happens. Ties right in with what Jesus said in
Matt. 13 & 24.]: …and there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The
kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His
Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.’ And the twenty-four
elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell on their faces and
worshiped God, Saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, Who is, and
Who was, and Who is to come; for You have taken to Yourself Your great power, and have reigned. For the nations were angry, and Your
wrath has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and to give reward
to Your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to all those
who fear Your name, the small and the great; and to destroy those who
destroy the earth’” (vs 11-18). So there it’s
talking about the resurrection; because you can’t give reward to them unless
they’re resurrected.
Now, let’s again review
the harvest in Revelation 14, and it shows, as we saw on Pentecost, two
harvests: the harvest of the righteous. Revelation 14:14: “And I looked, and
behold, a white cloud, and one like the Son of man sitting on
the cloud, having a golden crown on His head; and in His hand was a
sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud
voice to Him Who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Thrust in your sickle and reap,
because the time has come for You to reap; for the harvest of the earth is
ripe’” (vs 14-15). That’s the resurrection. And
that agrees with what Jesus said: the angels are the reapers, and who is it
doing it here but the angels. Then He talks about the ones that clusters of
grape and that harvest for wrath.
So now they’re
resurrected. As Jesus said, the angels are going to lift them up.
1-Thessalonians said we’re going to meet Him in the air, in the clouds.
Jesus said He’s returning with the clouds—so there we have them meeting
together. And now, when the resurrection takes place at the last Pentecost,
because as we will see there are things to take place after the
resurrection, with the saints in the air on the
Sea of Glass. Now let’s
understand something: It talks about those who have been resurrected
standing on the Sea of Glass.
I’ll expand a little
bit more on that in events leading up to Pentecost, but let’s just mention
this. There are three place that talk about the False Prophet. Do you
believe that there is a False Prophet? Yes! How many times does
something have to be mentioned in the Bible to be true? Once! If it
talks about the Sea of Glass here, it means a
literal sea of glass—just like it was back in Exodus 24; just like it was in
Revelation 4. And those who had gotten victory over the Beast, which is
Satan through all time, and over his mark, which is at the end-time; and
over his number and his name, standing on the Sea of Glass. And they have
their lyres and they’re going to sing the Song of Moses and the Song of the
Lamb. That refers back to those two loaves that were waved on the Day of
Pentecost, which had to do with those of the Old Testament and those of the
New Testament. So there’s an awful lot that takes place on the Sea of
Glass.
So, I’m going to bring
a sermon, which is going to cover all the things that have to take place on
the Sea of Glass; and why we are there
on the Sea of Glass from a Pentecost
resurrection and then we return with Christ on the following Feast of
Trumpets.
Scripture References:
- Exodus 23:14-19
- Exodus 34:17-23
- Leviticus 23:9-11, 14, 16-17
- Matthew 13:33
- Leviticus 23:16-17
- Jeremiah 2:1-3
- Romans 11:16, 15,17
- Matthew 13:10-11, 35, 12-32, 34-39,
41-43
- 1 Corinthians 15:17-23
- James 1:18
- Matthew 1:25
- Colossians 1:18
- Revelation 1:3-5
- Hebrews 12:22-23
- 1 Corinthians 15:34-52
- Revelation 6:14-16
- Matthew 24:29-30, 27, 31
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
- Revelation 8:1-8, 10, 12
- Revelation 9:1, 13
- Revelation 10:7
- Revelation 11:11-18
- Revelation 14:14-15
Scriptures referenced,
not quoted:
- Exodus 32
- Deuteronomy 16
- Acts 10
- Matthew 24
- Hebrews 1
- Hebrews 12
- Numbers 10
- Revelation 7; 6:12; 19; 4
- Exodus 24
Also
referenced:
- Sermon: From Mt. Sinai to Mt.
Sion
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