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PENTECOST – 1996
Count to PENTECOST #2
Fred Coulter – May 26, 1996
- Barley Facts from the Department of Horticulture, Purdue University.
Let’s go to Leviticus 23 and continue on where we left off yesterday.
Now let’s examine this just a little bit more because we’re also going to
answer a question here. Let’s come to Leviticus 23:14. It says,
and I’m reading again from the Schocken Bible. If you don’t have one,
let me just hold it up so you can take a look and see what it looks like.
I think you’ll find that this is a very good and highly readable
translation, and very accurate because it’s more literal than any of the
other translations that I have seen. And so let’s pick it up here in
verse 14.
Now it says, “Now bread or parched-grain or groats, you are not to eat,
until that same day [that is you go into the land and wave the wave sheaf
offering], until you have brought the near-offering of your God…” (Lev.
23:14, Schocken). Now let’s understand something. The wave sheaf
offering was cut before the wave sheaf offering day. The wave sheaves
that different people would bring in was cut before the wave sheaf offering
day. And then they would bring it. And so someone asked, “Well,
how can they cut it on the holy day?” Well they don’t. They wave
it and then they use the grain, and they may have harvested some other
things too, some more than just for the firstfruit, but then after the
waving of the firstfruit they are able to eat the new grain.
And the question that came up was concerning Joshua 5, now how are they
able on the holy day, to go out and harvest the grain. Well they
didn’t. They harvested it before time. It didn’t say not to
harvest it before time but you’re to bring the premier sheaf of your
harvest. Now it would have to be harvested before time, without a
doubt. So the main thing is here, that you are not to eat parched
grain or groats or new or old, when they went in to the land of crossing
over the river Jordan, until the same day that they entered the land.
Now then we went through the counting and how it’s supposed to be.
Let’s drop down here to verse 15. “Now you are to number for yourselves,
from the morrow of the Sabbath [which is the regular Sabbath during the days
of Unleavened Bread], from the day that you bring the elevated sheaf, seven
Sabbaths-of-days, whole (weeks) are they to be; until the morrow of the
seventh Sabbath you are to number—fifty days [we went through great detail
how to understand that], then you are to bring-near a grain-gift of
new-crops to [the LORD] YHWH” (vs. 15-16).
Now here’s what it was to be, verse 17, “From your [habitations, as it says
in the King James, or] settlements you are to bring bread as an
elevation-offering, two (loaves of) two tenth-measures of flour are they to
be, leavened you are to bake them, as firstfruits to [the LORD] YHWH.”
Now this pictures us being the firstfruits. Now notice there was a
continuous harvest, and they were allowed to eat beginning from the day that
the wave sheaf offering was waved, until they came clear down to the end of
the harvest on the 50th
day, and then they were to take the grain and they were to make two loaves
with leaven. Now every other meal offering that God commanded to be
offered were offered unleavened.
Now there’s a special reason why these are leavened. That pictures
those of us who are the firstfruits of the harvest of God in two major
categories. Number one: those who are going to be in the kingdom of
God who were under the covenant beginning, actually with Able, and then on
down to Noah and Abraham, and then Isaac and Jacob, and those kings and
prophets that were those who qualified, or received the Spirit of God so
they could be in the first resurrection. Such as David and Jehosophat,
and Hezekiah and different ones like that. And I’m sure that all the
prophets will be in the first resurrection too. Now then, the reason
that I believe that is so, and I think that holds out quite substantially,
the reason that they put the leaven in there is because leaven is a type of
sin. And sin is always in our members, and they are going to be in our
members until we die or resurrected or changed, whichever comes first.
And so this shows an acceptance of God the way that we are but with His
Spirit.
Now let’s go to Hebrews 11 for just a minute and we will see that that
tells us that they are going to be in the first resurrection with us.
Let’s go to the New Testament, Hebrews 11, and this is where it’s talking
about all of those who went through the different trials and scourgings and
everything that they went through. Hebrews 11:39, “And these all,
having obtained a good report through faith…” Because it is by faith
you are saved, through grace. And they received the grace of God, and
they had faith. They “…received not the promise: God having provided
some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect”
(Heb. 11:39-40, KJV). And so that’s why there are those two loaves,
and that’s why they are there made with leaven. Because remember as we
learned during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, that even though we have the
law of sin and death within us, this is not a condemnation to us, because
God understands that. That’s why we have His grace to cover our lives.
And as Paul said, it doesn’t give us an excuse to go out and sin, it doesn’t
give us reason to go out and do away with the laws of God. You cannot
have grace without the laws of God and you cannot have the laws of God
without grace, and so both of them go hand in hand.
Now let’s understand something else. When you take grain and you
thrash it, and then you gather together and you clean it and you winnow it,
and you bring it in to make flour to grind it. Now what happens when
you grind the flour? You completely change the grain, don’t you?
You change it from a kernel into flour. Now then what do you do?
You take and add the ingredients to it. You put in the oil and you put
in the sweetening, if you want it sweet, which you should have a little bit
in there. And then you put in the salt, and then you put in the
leavening, and then what happens? You bake it. Now when it’s
baked, the grain has permanently been reformed, hasn’t it? Now it’s
the same way that God wants with us. Grinding flour is like the trials
and difficulties that we go through, and sometimes you may even feel like
ground up flour. And then adding the ingredients into it, the flour,
the water or the milk, and all of those things, you can go add the
sweetening and so forth. You can actually make a case that this is a
type of our lives that we go through in preparation for acceptance by God.
And also all of these trials are to add to us character. And that
character is to become permanent. Just like when you make a loaf of
bread, you put all the ingredients together, you mix them all up, and you
knead it, and you form it, and you mold it, and you put it in the pan, and
you bake it in the fire. And baking it’s kind of like the fiery trial,
isn’t it? Yes it is. So when the loaf is done you have something
brand new. Now that’s exactly what it’s going to be with us, we’re
going to be something brand new. Something that has never been done
before.
Now, let’s come over here to Hebrews 12:18. Now we’re going to draw a
comparison between coming to the mountain on the day of Pentecost when the
laws and commandments of God were given, as Paul draws that analogy here
showing in verse 18. “For ye are not come unto the mount that might be
touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and
tempest [as it was there at Mt. Sinai when God descended on the top of the
mountain], and the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of words; which
voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to
them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if
so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through
with a dart: And so terrible was the sight…” So it was an awesome event, the
giving of the Ten Commandments and God coming down on top of Mt. Sinai.
What a tremendous thing this was. “…that Moses said, I
exceedingly fear an quake:)” I guess so. “But ye [that is “we”,
brethren] are come unto mount Sion [that is mount Sion in heaven above, not
the one on earth], and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly
Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly
and church of the firstborn…”
Now Christ was the firstborn of God the Father. We are going to be
the firstborn from the rest of the human family that God is bringing into
His Kingdom. So that’s why we are called the church of the general
assembly of the firstborn. “…Which are written in heaven…” Our names
are written in the book of life in heaven. Jesus has His reward, which
He is going to bring with Him, and I think that is very important for us to
understand when we understand all the events that are going to take place on
this day of Pentecost. “…And to God the Judge of all, and to the
spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new
covenant…” And that new covenant is a spiritual and everlasting covenant.
“…And to the blood of sprinkling…” The very blood of Jesus Christ that
opens the way for us into the holy of holies. “…That speaketh better
things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that
speaketh” (Heb. 12:18-25). Now we have covered, as we did very
recently, how that anyone who is going to do any speaking, anyone who is
going to hear anything that God has to say had better listen and do because
God is going to require it.
Now what is a way to refuse him that speaks? Well, first of all we
have all the word of God. And what a wonderful blessing it is indeed
that we have it brethren. And so we need to be very diligent to be
about studying and knowing as much of the word of God as we can, without a
doubt. And that’s what we’re trying to do. Every word here was
spoken by God or inspired by God. Now when you read the prophets what
do you see all the time? “And the word of the LORD came to me saying,
Speak to the children of Israel and say, Thus says the LORD of hosts.”
Exactly the same thing that happened with Moses, correct? God came to
Moses and said, “Moses, I want you to tell the children of Israel thus and
such.” Now if we refuse him who speaks, what we are doing, we are
refusing to listen. We are refusing to hearken. And that is done
most particularly by those who say, “Well, you don’t need to keep the
Commandments of God.” That is refusing him who speaks. “For if
they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth [that is Moses], much
more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that
speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath
promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things
that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot
be shaken may remain” (vs. 25-27). Now that’s why God is going to
almost literally destroy the whole face of the earth. Completely redo
it to show that spiritual things cannot be measured by physical things.
That which really endures is the Spirit of God and the love, and the hope,
and the faith that God gives us. Now that can’t be shaken.
That’s what he’s talking about here. We don’t want that shaken.
Brethren don’t let any, anything or person or idea or whatever it may be
shake you or remove you from Christ. Remember the warning that Jesus
gave. “Let no man take your crown.” Remember that.
Now let’s come to verse 28 of Hebrews 12. “Wherefore we [are]
receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved [because it’s coming down from
heaven above from God the Father], let us have grace, whereby we may serve
God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” And that’s what this
day is all about, how we can understand and realize the tremendous plan that
God has for us and to serve Him, and to love Him, and do so with godly fear.
Now verse 28, “For our God is
a consuming fire.” Now you think about that. You don’t want to
appear before God in the flesh. You want to appear before God as a
Spirit Being so that you will see Him face to face. You will see Him
as He is because you will be like Him.
Now let’s come over here to Acts 2, which pictures the very first Pentecost
for the Church. Now we covered a little bit of that when we were going
over how to count to Pentecost, and showing that chapter 2, and verse 1
really means that when the 50th day, or namely when the day, the
50th day was being fulfilled, and that is during the
accomplishing of these things. Many things took place. Now we
know exactly what took place. Now I’ve got them broken down in this
way seeing that Pentecost fulfilled many different things for us. Now
you can go back and you can say, ok, on the first Pentecost they received
the Ten Commandments. Well, on the second Pentecost they received the
Holy Spirit for the power of preaching and also 10 events took place.
Now these are not the Ten Commandments but these are 10 fulfillments of
things that took place during the fulfilling or the accomplishing, or the
completing of the day of Pentecost.
Now let’s read those, because they were all there in one place. And
then what happened? The sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the
house where they were all gathered together. And we find in verse 2.
Then the second thing that happened was, there appeared as cloven tongues
right upon their heads, of fire, which sat upon each one of them.
Number three, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, verse 4.
Let’s read that. “And they were all filled with the Holy [Spirit]
Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.” So this is a factor of a double miracle, that not only did
they speak in other tongues or languages, which they did not know before,
but also those who were hearing understood them but while the ones who were
speaking were speaking, they were speaking in their tongue of their mind,
otherwise they wouldn’t have understood what they were saying. But it
was coming out of their mouth as another language. And it reached out
to all of those Jews who were there to keep the day of Pentecost.
Now let’s go back and reflect just a minute as to why this was a special
Pentecost, in addition to the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Remember the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover, Jesus
was crucified and died on the Passover day. He was put in the tomb and
was there three days and three nights. He was resurrected at the end
of the Sabbath. He was seen of Mary Magdalene and the others on the
first day of the week, He ascended into heaven and came back an appeared to
the disciples. Now, all the events that took place with the
crucifixion – the darkness, the earthquake, the saints that were resurrected
after Jesus was resurrected and went into the city and appeared to many.
And don’t you think that this was noised abroad? Don’t you think that
this went out to all of the Jewish community and the Israelite community,
wherever they were between that time and the day of Pentecost? And I
just imagine there were a lot of them who came and said, “Boy, let’s go to
Jerusalem, find out what’s going to happen this Pentecost. Is
something going to happen? Let’s go up there and check out and make
sure that this man was really resurrected, that the body was not taken
someplace.” You know what they’re doing today? They’re actually
saying, “Well, Jesus was not resurrected but dogs ate His body.”
That’s why Jesus said, when He comes to the earth will the Son of man find
the faith.
Now let’s continue on. So they were filled with the Holy Spirit,
number 4 they began to speak in other tongues, meaning other languages.
Because it says right here in verse 8, “And how hear we every man in our own
tongue, wherein we were born?” Then it lists all the countries, every
one of them with a different language. And they said, verse 12, “…What
meaneth this?” Well, we’ll find out the meaning.
Number 5, when the multitude of devout Jews who gathered in Jerusalem for
the Feast of Pentecost heard of this they rushed to see what was going on.
They were amazed and confounded each one of them, because they heard the
apostles speaking in a language in which they were born.
And number 6, the multitude said, “What could this mean?” And then
other said, “Well there drunk.” But it couldn’t have been because it
was the third hour of the morning, or about 9 o’clock.
And Peter stood up at that time, that’s the 7th thing that
happened, and preached a very powerful sermon. Now let’s look at some
of the things concerning this. So Peter, verse 14, “…standing up with
the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and
all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken
to my words…” Isn’t that interesting. On the Pentecost when the
Ten Commandments were given God said, “Hear My voice.” On the
Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given Peter stood up and said, “Hear my
voice, listen to my words.” “For these are not drunken, as ye suppose,
seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that
which was spoken by the prophet Joel…” (Acts 2:14-16).
Now why bring this in? The prophet Joel? Well we need to
understand, also on this day of Pentecost the trumpet was blown. And I
think being the third hour what we actually had was this: we had the morning
offering as the daybreak began, and then that was being consumed. We
had other offerings, which were about to be offered, thank offerings, peace
offerings. We also had the two loaves, which everyone was bringing in
to present to be waved. We also have concerning this that the trumpet
was blown. The ceremonial trumpet, because it’s blown on every single
holy day.
So Peter said, quoting Joel, “And it shall come to pass in the last days…”
Now I want to focus on this “the last days” because this is important.
As we will see a little later on, the term “the day of the Lord” has a
narrow meaning and a broad meaning. “The day of the Lord” includes all
of the last 3 ½ years, and it also includes the Day of the Lord when He
brings the seven last plagues. It also includes the Day of the Lord
from the opening of the sixth seal on to the return of Jesus Christ,
including the resurrection. So sometimes it is a broad term, and
sometimes it is a narrow term. Here it is, it’s used in a broader term
“the last days”.
“…saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams” (vs. 17). I think that is going to
happen right when the 144,000 then are sealed. This is a special work
that God is going to do. He did it here with all the disciples didn’t
He, on that day? One hundred twenty were sealed with the Holy Spirit.
And then we had, as we will see, the very last thing that happened that day
was that 3,000 were baptized and added to the Church.
And continuing on he says, “And on My servants and on My handmaidens I will
pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: and I will
shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and
fire, and vapour of smoke…” (vs. 18-19). Now did that happen on this
Pentecost that we’re reading of here in Acts 2? No, it didn’t.
So not only is this being in prophecy that he’s talking about of the last
days, but what it is also doing, it’s another projected prophecy showing
that these things are going to take place on the day of Pentecost in the
last days in the future before Christ returns.
“The sun shall be burned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
that great and notable day of the Lord come” (vs. 20). Now notice we
have last days, the great an notable day of the Lord. So we have a
definition even right here. “And it shall come to pass, that
whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of
Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you
by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you,
as ye yourselves also know.” It’s like the apostle Paul said, this was
not done in a corner. They knew. And then he said, you know He
was delivered to Pilate, and so forth. All the way through he began
telling about it. He referred it then back to David, because Jesus was
of the seed of David.
And he said, “Men and
brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both
dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day” (vs. 29).
So we know that this was not referring to David. They knew, they
understood the prophecies up to that point. But, verse 30, “Therefore
being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of
the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to
sit on His throne: he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of
Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see
corruption” (vs. 29-31). And all of these go right back to the
prophecies to fulfill the scripture.
“This Jesus hath God raised up…” And I imagine he could speak that with
power because he saw Him, he felt Him, he talked to Him, he ate with Him, he
fished with Him. And Jesus told him the very last there in John 21
about loving Him and feeding the sheep, so he knew. Therefore, he
says, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the
Father the promise of the Holy [Spirit] Ghost, He hath shed forth this,
which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens:
but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, sit Thou on My right hand,
until I make Thy foes Thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel
know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, Whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ” (vs. 32-36). And when he said those words
they knew what he was talking about. There was not a single doubt
whatsoever.
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart…”
They were led to repentance. The graciousness of God moved in their
lives of the power of the Holy Spirit there over the whole area were they
were preaching, and they were moved to repentance. Deep in their
heart, pricked to their hearts, that’s what it means. “…And said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall
we do?” Yes when you understand that you’re sins personally had their
part in killing Jesus Christ, because He died for your sins and my sins, and
the sins of the whole world, then that needs to really prick your heart and
get deep within your very being. And that is called repentance, which
is not to be repented of. “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
(vs. 37).
“Then Peter said unto them…”, and then this was the ninth thing that was to
be done after they…the eighth thing was after they heard the sermon they
said, “What should we do”…the ninth thing was then, verse 38, Peter said to
them, a verse you all ought to have memorized, “Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy [Spirit] Ghost. For the promise
is unto you…” Because the promise is what first to who? The Jews.
And at this time they didn’t even know that they were going to go to the
Gentiles. They didn’t understand that until Acts 10, which is down
about 10 – 12 years down the road. “…Unto you and to your children,
and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other
words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
[or this wicked] generation” (vs .38-40).
Now the 10th thing that happened was, “Then they that gladly
received his word were baptized: and the same day…” Now I want you to
tie the phrase in: and the same day. I want you to go back and tie
that in with verse 1, “And when the day [namely the 50th day, or
the Day of Pentecost was [being fulfilled]…”, then all of those things
took place. The last thing being the baptism on that day.
“…the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”
(vs. 41). So that was quite a harvest for that day, wasn’t it?
Now let’s look and see why the firstfruits, why what we are doing now is
likened unto a harvest. Let’s go to Matthew 13 where it talks about
seven parables altogether. And I think it’s interesting that there are
seven parables, because we will see the number seven ties in very clearly
with the Feast of Firstfruits or the Day of Pentecost. We have, you
just count the things that there are number 7, and there is also a 7 plus 1,
which is added into this all the way along. First of all we have the
Passover, which is 1, then plus 7, which then equals 8. Next we have 7
weeks, 7 Sabbaths unto the morrow after the 7th Sabbath, so again
we have a number 8 being the 50th
day or Pentecost. Number 7 is complete, number 8 is a new beginning.
And so Pentecost really is picturing a new beginning. So we’ll see
that as we go along.
Now we’re not going to go through every one of these parables, but here
there are seven different parables, each of them showing a different aspect
of the Kingdom of God. Now let’s come to verse 18 where it is the
parable of the sower. And let’s understand that as we read this we can
see this happening in the world and the church today.
“Here ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the
word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked
one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.” Now
we’ve seen that happen with some people, haven’t we? Yes, they have
lost the word of God, they have lost the truth, they have gone after Satan
the devil. “This is he which received seed by the way side. But
he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the
word, and anon with joy receiveth it…” Oh they get all excited, “Ou, this is
wonderful.” “Yet hath he not root in himself, but [endures] for a
while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word…”
(Matt. 13:18-21). Now Peter said if we’re corrected for our own
mistakes, that’s one thing. Don’t say you’ve done anything great with
that, you’re just being corrected for what you did that was wrong, yourself.
But if you are persecuted for righteousness sake because of the word, he
said count it all joy. But not everyone does that. Some of them
count it as an offense and by and by they are offended. They get
madder and mad and bitter and go their way.
Now verse 22, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” You go back and
you read concerning the seven churches and the one that this fits the most
is Laodiceans. Cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches. Now
let’s just summarize it very carefully here. Physical blessings are no
measure of spiritual attainment. They just are not. Spiritual
attainment is measured by God. Spiritual attainment is something that
God Himself knows that is growing in grace in knowledge, and growing in the
fruits of the Spirit of love, and joy, and peace, and faith, and
longsuffering, and temperance, and goodness, and meekness against such there
is no law. So you see that’s how you measure. You don’t look at
your home and say, “Well, God blessed me with a home.” Maybe He did
but does that mean you’re righteous. Don’t look at the money you may
have and say, “Well, God has blessed me with all of this money therefore I’m
righteous.” Don’t trust in it because it’s the deceitful of riches.
Now verse 23, “but he that received seed into the good ground…” Now that’s
where God wants it to be. The good ground then is, “…he that heareth
the word [to obey it], and understandeth it [God wants us to
understand it], which [is] also beareth fruit and bringeth forth, some an
hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” And that’s what God wants us to
do so that it all can be harvested on the day of Pentecost.
Now let’s come down here and let’s just look at the explanation of one
other parable. This is the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Now we’ve also experienced this also haven’t we? To where within the
Church there have come in the tares. And at first you can’t tell the
difference because a tare looks just like the wheat. But when the
wheat starts bringing forth fruit then you can tell the difference between
the wheat and the tare because the tare doesn’t bring forth any fruit.
So Jesus said in explaining this to hear the parable of the tares.
“He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of
man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
but the tares are the children of the wicked one…” Satan has his own
children. The ones that follow him, that worship him, that do his
will, that do his bidding. Therefore, it continues on, “…the enemy
that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world…” Now are
we getting ready for the harvest? Is that why all the upheaval within
the Churches of God? Could very well be. “…And the reapers are
the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the
fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall
send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity [or lawlessness, reject the laws of
God]; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth” (vs. 37-42). So we see that the harvest comes right
down to the time in when the harvest is made then there’s a separation of
the wicked from the righteous. And we’re going to see that’s exactly
what will take place on the Feast of Pentecost.
Now let’s come to James 1 because we find in James 1 that we are called the
firstfruits of His creation, as it should read. James 1:17, “Every
good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights, with Whom is no variable ness, neither shadow of turning.
Of His own will…” Now this is quite a verse of God the Father’s own
will. “…Begat…” Now we’re begotten again. We’re not born again
until the resurrection. No one is born again now. That is a
misnomer, a complete false doctrine, it is not true. They can twist
and turn the words all they want but the scriptures clearly show that we are
not born again until the resurrection. Jesus was raised from the dead
to be the first born, prototokos of those that are Christ’s.
Firstborn among many brethren. “Of His own will begat He us with the
word of truth…” By God’s Spirit, which of truth? By the word of truth.
By Christ Who is the word and God’s own seed in us. “…That we should
be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” Now that really means of
His creation. We are the firstfruits of His creation. And that’s
why the Feast of Pentecost pictures the first resurrection. Now we’re
going to see this.
Let’s turn over to Revelation 2, please. And we’re not going to go
through each one, but what I want us to do is I want us to understand the
flow of events as they come along. In the first chapter, Revelation 1,
let’s go there first before Revelation 2 and 3. But let’s read this
beginning in verse 18. Here’s what Jesus said. He said, “I am
He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen;
and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou
hast seen [that is everything leading up to this point in chapter 1], and
the things which are [beginning now], and the things which shall be
hereafter…” John was instructed to write. So we find that there
is a sequence of events and a time setting of things as they come along.
And it begins with the mystery of the secret, “…of the seven stars which
thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The
seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…” Now we have seven weeks
to harvest, don’t we? We have seven churches, do we not? Yes we
do. So there is the sequence that we have. Seven churches.
“…And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches” (Rev
1:18-20).
Then He lists out the seven churches and these are in fact everything that
has been said, which means that:
#1 – Seven literal churches at the time that John wrote.
#2 – Seven churches down through history as God views His Church. Not
as we view the Church.
Many people have tried to claim to be Philadelphians. Hardly any have
accepted the fact they may be Laodicean. I have no one yet to claim
that they are Thyatiran. I have no one to say yet that they brag that
they’re Pergamos, or anyone dare say that they’re Smyrna, because Smyrna,
they were poor, suffered tribulation, throne in jail and killed. Now
we have some which would dare say that they have the spirit and attitude of
the Ephesians. However all of these things also show all the major
doctrinal problems which shall assault the church. All of the physical
circumstances that we are going to go through as Christians, all of the
spiritual problems that we will go through, and also is meant to inspire us
to understand that in spite of all the difficulties that are done, Christ
wants us to make it to the end for the resurrection and to be in the Kingdom
of God. He wants us to do that brethren. And let’s really
understand that. That’s why it’s very important.
Now if you have the tapes, “The Assaults Against The Church”, there are
four of them which we did. You go back and re-listen to them again and
I’m sure you will be amazed what you will find that we covered there.
Now also there’s one other thing that we need to understand. In the
book of Revelation we have this pattern. We have the seven seals out
of which come the seven trumpet plagues out of which come the seven last
plagues. So do we have the same pattern here? Seven churches
which were seven churches through history and at the end seven churches all
together as God views His Churches.
Now let’s continue on right here in Revelation 2 and three. And as
you read this you will find that it flows in a time sequence. That
which you have now seen, that which shall be hereafter. And that’s
what we’re dealing with. And let’s understand something, the reasons
why that these are prophecies of the history of the Church, two simple
reasons:
#1 – God also gave the history of Israel in all the nations of the world
and then what He did, He gave a summary of that in the book of Daniel.
Now do you think that since the Church is the most important thing to God on
the earth that He’s going to do any less with the Church? That’s why
the book of Revelation starts out this way. To show us that yes, God
is going to do what He’s going to do with the Church, and so He records this
here.
Now let’s come to Revelation 5 for just a minute and let’s see something
that I think that is very important, which shows us that this is undoubtedly
true. We’ll go back and pick up some in Revelation 4 here in just a
minute. Revelation 5:6, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the
throne and of the four [living creatures] beasts, and in the midst of the
elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns…” Now what is
a horn? Now it’s in its head. “…having seven horns and seven
eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
Now why seven horns? Normally a lamb would have two horns. So we
know that this Lamb is Jesus Christ. And we know then that the seven
horns… let’s ask the question… what do these mean?
Well we know the seven spirits are the seven angels to the seven churches,
but what are the seven horns? Seven horns…let’s look at it this way,
let’s start by asking a question. What is a horn in the book of
Daniel? Each one of the horns represents a king or a kingdom, does it
not? Yes. Why then do we have seven horns on the head of the
Lamb, if it is not to show us that the successive epics of the Church of
God? Now some people have gotten all carried away with eras and
saying, “We are this era and we are that era, and we are the other era.”
Well no one really knows for sure, and no one has really been right in any
of these prophecies. But however this does tell us and give us the, I
think, the Biblical interpretation that those seven churches do represent
the Churches of God down through history.
Now let’s come over here to chapter 3 and let’s see how it ends, and let’s
see what Jesus is saying. Now let’s come here to Revelation 3:20,
“Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I
also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”
Part 2
Then He says , “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches” (Rev. 3:20-22). And all the way through that’s what
He said to all of the churches.
Now let’s come to chapter 4, because let’s ask the question… is there
coming a time when the work and the harvest of the Church will be over?
And the answer is, yes. And that ends right here. Whenever the
fulfillment of this is going to take place with the seven churches.
Notice what happens then. When it comes right to the time that it’s
about ready to come to an end, chapter 4:1 it says, “After this…” So we find
a sequence of time from chapter 1 through chapter 2, and chapter 3.
Now the beginning of chapter 4:1, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it
were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will
shew thee things which must be hereafter [the time sequence].” So what
it does, it shows us before the beginning of the seven seals it shows that
God is actively involved in carrying out His plan from heaven above from His
throne. And it shows the throne of God, shows Christ before the throne
of God. It shows the 24 elders, it shows the great innumerable
multitude, and it shows that Christ is worthy to open the seven seals and
loose them.
Now let’s come to Revelation 6. Revelation 6 is the beginning of the
opening of the seals. And these are going to be major swift moving
events in this earth. We’ll see why. Verse 1, “And I saw when
the Lamb opened one of the seals [or that is the first seal], and I heard,
as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four [living creatures] beasts
saying, come and see. And I saw, and behold a white house…” Now we
know this is not Christ because Christ has not returned with the saints
until Revelation 19. This is a false christ. This is a false
religion. This is a false savior, and it’s on a horse. Now why a
horse? A horse is to show that these things happen suddenly.
Just like He opened the seal and –Bam- here comes a horse real quickly.
And I think this is showing the false world religion, which is about ready
to take place. Now let’s understand something about misinterpretation
in the past before. Some have read this and said, “Well all the seals
were opened except the sixth seal, all during the time of the apostles.”
Not so. However, Matthew 24 can give us an interpretation as to what
these are. False prophet, war, famine, starvation, persecution, and
martyrdom. That is true. But these are going to happen, and when
they happen it is going to be sudden. It is going to be breathtaking.
It is going to be so swift, and it’s going to be so convincing.
Now notice what He does. “…And he that sat on him had a bow; and a
crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and
see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth,
and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great
sword” (Rev. 6:1-4).
Now, let’s stop right here and understand the time frame in which the
second seal, or the red horse takes place. This coordinates with
events in Revelation 12. Let’s turn there and then we’ll come back.
Let’s put this all together. When Satan knows he has but a short time he is
cast back down to the earth and he knows he has but a short time.
Notice what he does when he is cast down. Revelation 12:12, “Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the
inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come unto you,
having great wrath…” Now that is the beginning of the tribulation.
That is the beginning of where the great sword is taken out. Not
quite. Before the sword comes something else is going to take place in
a very short period of time. And it’s going to be a persecution.
“…He knows that he has a short time. And when the dragon saw that he
was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.” Now there’s going to be a persecution against the Churches of
God. And when it comes it is going to be universal and all of them
will be involved. Now notice what takes place. “And to the woman
were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the
wilderness into her place [the place of hers]…” Yes, there is a specific
place of safety and yes, God is going to take those who go there who are
going to go. No man is going to plan it. No passport is going to
be required. No plane tickets are going to be required. No boat
tickets are going to be required. God is going to send His angels,
just like He did when He took Lot and his family out of Sodom. That’s
what Jesus said in Luke 17, that they are going to be taken. God is
going to make that decision. So if you find anyone who is saying, “Oh
get your passport together brethren, because we’re going to go to Jordan
have the place of safety. I already cut a deal with King Hussein.”
Don’t believe them, you’re headed for a destruction. Or another man
will say, “Move down here to Texas, because down in Texas that’s going to be
the place of safety. Because after all, Texas is going to succeed from
the Union.” Don’t you believe him, because everyone of those things
are saving your own neck. And if you try and do that you’re going to
lose it.
And there “…she is nourished…”, it’s in the wilderness. Now let me
ask you a question. Is Texas a wilderness? No, all these people
they live in cities down there, don’t they? Now some place in Texas
may be a wilderness, but some places of Arizona are, and so are Utah, and so
is Idaho, and Montana. And so is the Sahara desert and so is Petra and
so are other places on the earth a wilderness, you see. Now one thing
else that is important too. If you don’t know where the place of
safety is and you get there, you’ll find out when you arrive. But if
you know where it is and you don’t get there, that knowledge doesn’t do you
any good, because it’s a spiritual character and choice that God is going to
make based upon that spiritual character. Not the one who runs the
race. Not the one who is fighting. Not the one who thinks he
knows, because those who think they know don’t know. Now, “…she is
nourished [there] for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of
the serpent” (vs. 12-14).
Now notice what happens, and this is when the sword comes down. “And
the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he
might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped
the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which
the dragon cast out of his mouth.” Now notice what happens. “And
the dragon was wroth…” WROTH. “…was wroth with the woman, and went to
make war with the remnant of her seed…” Now remnant means “the others”
with no limitation as to the numbers. Remnant in English means “a
small remaining”. But this means merely the others, who what?
The others “…of her seed which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ” (vs. 15-16). This then becomes the
beginning of the martyrdom.
Now let’s tie that in with chapter 13 so we have all of these parallel
events taking place. And if you don’t have the two tapes, “The Outline
of Revelation, #1 and #2” and the chart that goes with it, write back and
we’ll send it to you. If you have it, go back and review it.
Now after the beast receives the deadly wound and is brought back to life,
now then it says all the world worshipped him. They worshipped the
dragon saying, “Who is able to make war with the beast?”
Because he has a great sword, which [it] says in Revelation 6. “And
there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and
power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
His name, and His tabernacle [or dwelling place], and them that dwell in
heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to
overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and
nations. And all that dwell upon the earth…whose names are not written
in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”…
shall worship him. (Rev. 13:5-8).
Now then let’s go back to Revelation 6 because these events tie in, in
parallel, because Revelation 6 when the big sword is given, that’s when he
starts coming against the Church. It’s going to be a general war
against many people but then it’s going to narrow down and come against the
Church, those who remain that were not taken to a place of safety. Now
notice Revelation 6:4, “And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him…” Notice “power”, same thing as
Revelation 13. Power was given to him. Authority was given to
him. “…To take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another:
and there was given unto him a great sword.” Great, GREAT war making
capacity. Who’s able to make war against the beast?
“And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come
and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him
had a pair of balances in his hand” (vs. 5). And this is a rationing
of food. Famine and starvation follow. Immediately when war comes food
supplies are disrupted, and today when they are disrupted you only have a
few short days and starvation starts setting in.
Verse 7, “And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the
fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse:
and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell [or the grave] followed
with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the
earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the
beasts of the earth” (vs. 7-8).
Now notice verse 9. Here’s when the war is against the saints.
Now it’s going to take a period of time. But what’s going to happen is
this: you’re going to have two groups of Christians. You’re
going to have those who are in a place of safety that Satan cannot touch.
So they’re not going to be martyred. You have all the rest who don’t
go to a place of safety and Satan comes after them. Now he’s going to
get every single one because they won’t have the mark of the beast and they
will be easy to find and detect. And so when the fifth seal is opened
that’s when it begins.
“…I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of
God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud
voice…” These are all the past martyrs now, in symbolism crying out.
They’re not yet resurrected, that’s why this is in symbolism. “How
long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on
them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every
one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet…”, that is
they’re going to remain in their graves. That’s what rest means.
“…for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren,
that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (vs. 9-11).
He’s going to kill every one.
Now at that time what do we have? We have the completion of the work
of the Church, do we not? When all those have been killed and been
martyred for the word of Christ we no longer have the work of the Church
going on do we? The harvest of the Church is complete. It has
come to an end. That is pictured by the seven churches, the seven
weeks of harvest, but for Pentecost there is yet, what, one more day.
And there’s going to be a day of harvest, which is going to be God’s and
God’s alone as we will see.
Let’s come down here to Revelation 6:12. And I beheld when He had
opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake…” Now I want
you to tie this in with what we read back in Acts 2, that Peter quoted of
the prophet Joel. Notice, the same thing. “…Great earthquake;
and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her
untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Remember God said
He’s going to shake the heavens, He’s going to shake the earth. And
this is going to be a tremendous and fantastic event. “And the heaven
departed as a scroll…”, just rolled back and there’s going to be a
tremendous thing that takes place at that time. And they’re going to
see the sign of the Son of man in heaven. And it’s going to be like,
all of a sudden there’s something they have never seen in the heavens
before. A brand new star. And the world is going to be all
prepared for the invasion from outer space. So they’re going to look
at that and they’re going to say, “Oh what is happening?” Great event.
So much so that “…when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island
were moved out of their places” (vs. 12-14). So if you think you’re
going to find a place of safety in a cave in a mountain, guess what?
It won’t be there. If you’re in the cave when this takes place you’re
part of the rock. You’re mincemeat. You’re ground up. You
are dead. See because if you seek to save your own life you’re going
to lose it. So if you say, “Ok, I’m going to buy an island out here in
the sea and I’m going to hide away.” It’s going to sink. Now
what are you going to do? You know, how long can you tread water?
“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men [this
affects everybody], and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every
bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of
the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us
from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the
Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come…” (vs. 15-17). Now we’re
dealing with the day of the Lord, and His wrath is coming. Who shall
be able to stand?
Now then, when God intervenes directly, then He’s going to do something
else very important. And I think that this fits right in with the
Feast of Pentecost, which is this: the harvest of the 50th day
begins on the next to the last Pentecost and there is that one day, that 50th day, that one year of harvest that God is going to do. And it starts
out right here chapter 7. And it is the 144,000. Now if you
haven’t received the tape “Who are the 144,000?” you need to write back and
request it because we go through and explain it. Now each one of these
are of the 144,000 here, are of the 12 tribes of Israel being 12,000 from
each tribe. We have no account in the Bible what so ever as to why Dan
is not among the 144,000 at this point. So we’ll have to find out why
that is when Christ returns. This is a harvest of God. Let’s notice
something particular about this.
Here’s the message, verse 3 chapter 7, “Saying [to the angels which held
back the wind], Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we
have sealed he servants of our God in their foreheads.” Now let’s
understand something very importantly. 2 Corinthians 1:22 says that
you are sealed with the Spirit of promise, the earnest of the Spirit.
Everyone today who has the Holy Spirit today cannot be any one of the144,000
nor the great innumerable multitude here, as we find in Revelation 7,
because we have already been sealed. These are people who are
converted right in that last year. From next to the last Pentecost until the
last Pentecost. And then we’ll see what takes place from Pentecost
till Trumpets. Just like everywhere else in the scriptures we have, to
the Jew first or to the Israelites first, and then to the Gentiles. We
have the 144,000 of the children of Israel, and then verse 9, “…a great
multitude, which no man could number…” No limit to this, no one
numbers. Of what? “…Of all nations, and kindreds, and people,
and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with
white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying,
Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.”
So it shows that they’re going to be in the resurrection. It also
shows, verse 14, “…These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
So there we have right there the harvest of God.
Now let’s get a time frame as to when this is going to occur in
relationship to the last 3 ½ years. And we can understand that from
the 144,000 of Israel. They are of the children of Israel. Now
let’s go back to the book of Hosea. I covered this in quite detail
when I gave the study on “Who Are the 144,000”. Let’s go back to the
book of Hosea, chapter 5, the very last verse, and we will see how this fits
in and it will give us a time frame at that particular point that we can
take back and understand what occurs here.
Hosea 5:15 it says of Israel, it says of God in relationship to Israel.
God says as He corrects them, He says, “I will go and return to My
place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek My face: in their
affliction they will seek Me early.” And they will. It’s not
going to be at the end of the 3 ½ years. As we are going to see this
is going to be at the end of two full years of the tribulation against
Israel.
Now let’s continue on chapter 6:1 where Israel says, “Come, and let us
return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath
smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in
the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.”
Now that’s an absolutely perfect description of what is going to happen to
the 144,000 of Revelation 7 of the children of Israel. Thy are as good
as dead, but they repent and return to God and He will raise them up.
He will heal them and they will live. Not only will they live, He
gives them His Holy Spirit so that when Christ returns at the end of that
year then they are going to be resurrected and be in the Kingdom of God.
Now let’s look at this time frame again. “After two days.” How
long is a day in prophecy? It is a year. So this is after two
years and in the “third day.” So this is the beginning of the third
year. So that means there is one year and six months left,
approximately, until Christ puts His feet on the earth. So this gives
us the time frame.
Now then, this is a special harvest of God. This is His 50th day harvest. And brethren, I think that the harvest of God, His
harvest alone for that one year with the 144,000 and the great innumerable
multitude, may very well be more than all the Churches have done down
through history. And after all, why not. It is God Who is doing
it directly.
Now then, after they are sealed, then we have the flow of events continue.
Notice it’s a continuous flow of events from chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter
3, through 4, 5, 6, 7. It continues the flow of events in chapter 8
where we have the trumpet plagues. And the trumpet plagues then, come
after a space of time. So I believe that when this next to the last
Pentecost takes place and all of them are sealed with the Holy Spirit, a
great and tremendous event, repeating in a greater way what happened on the
first Pentecost at the temple with the Church. That there’s going to
be that space of time between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets when there
is not going to be too much activity going on in relationship to the events
of prophecy. But after that then, I believe that beginning with the
next to the last Feast of Trumpets, then the first trumpet is blown.
And we have that space of time from that Trumpets on down to the next
Pentecost when the resurrection takes place, when the seven trumpets will be
blown. Each one of them gives a space of time. Each one of them
gives an event, which is going to take place. Each one of them
progressively gets worse and worse and worse, and worse. Then we have
the 5th seal, we have the 6th seal, and all of those show a space of time and activities to take place.
Then we come to chapter 10. All of this now, right up through chapter
9, beginning in chapter 10. Then right at chapter 10 something happens
in chapter 10 with the seven thunders. We don’t know what the seven
thunders are. God told John, “Don’t write what the seven thunders
are.” No one knows. Nor do we know what was written in the
little book that John was told to eat, except that he had to go preach.
He had to go out. So at that time is there going to be a time of
preaching just again before the seventh angel sounds? However little
bit of time there’s going to be, and will the 144,000 be involved in that?
It’s possible. Will those who were in a place of safety, will there be
those who leave that and go preach again? That’s possible. I do
not know so therefore we’ll just have to say, let’s hold that judgment in
abeyance until we understand it a little bit more. And I don’t think
we’ll understand it until we’re able to look back and see how the events
occurred.
Now let’s come to chapter 10:7. “But in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, when he [is about] shall begin to sound...” That’s what it
means. “…the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to
His servants the prophets.” Now then when the seventh trumpet
sounds…now we skip by the inset chapter of chapter 11 and the two witnesses,
but the two witnesses come down here to a point don’t they. They shall
prophesy for a thousand two hundred sixty days. They will be killed,
their dead bodies shall lie in the street of Jerusalem for 3 ½ days.
Then notice what happens, chapter 11:11. “And after three days and an half
the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their
feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a
great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither.” Now that’s
going to be quite an event, isn’t it? And right when they’re watching
“…they ascended up to heaven in a cloud’ and their enemies beheld them”
(Rev. 11:11-12).
Now where are they going to go? “And the same hour was there a great
earthquake [again], and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were
affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is
past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly” (vs. 13-14). The
seventh trumpet ends, the second woe, it’s over with. The seventh
trumpet begins the third woe but it comes quickly after the trumpet is
blown.
Verse 15, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in
heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of
our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. And
the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their [thrones] seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, We give Thee thanks, O
Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast
taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned” (vs. 15-17). That’s
when God starts reigning on the earth. That’s when He is directly
doing all of this. Now before it was, Christ opened the seals and men
did it. The trumpet plagues then came and it was angels that did it.
And then it was demons working with men to bring them to fight and battle
and war. Now then we have Christ is going to do it. What happens
from now on is what Christ is going to do, not what men are going to do.
Verse 18, “And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time
of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward
unto Thy servants the prophets…”, because the resurrection takes place at
what? At the last trump. Not trumpets. At the last trump,
“For the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and
we shall be changed.” That’s what it’s talking about right here.
That’s what it takes place. And the very two last to be martyred, the
two witnesses are the very first to be resurrected. So again we have
fulfilled to the very letter – the first shall be last and the last shall be
first. And that You “…shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”
So that was a tremendous thing that’s going to take place here. Now I
believe that the resurrection is going to take place on that last Pentecost.
Now let’s go back and look at these events as they’re described in Matthew
24. Let’s come to Matthew 24:29 where it says, “Immediately after the
tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not
give her light, 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 in the clouds of heaven with power and great
glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet
[not trumpets]…” Remember the Feast of Trumpets is a memorial of
blowing of trumpets, and we will see what that will be when we get to
Revelation 19. “…And they shall gather together His elect from the
four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matt. 24:20-31).
Now let’s go to 1 Thessalonians 4 and let’s understand something here which
I think is really very important. We are going to meet Christ in the
air. Now what’s going to happen, and what are we going to do when we
meet Him in the air? Are we going to be resurrected and go woop, “Hi
Lord, let’s go back”? Or are there some things that have to happen?
And if there’s some things that have to happen, how long are we going to be
in the air in the clouds?
Let’s go to 1 Thessalonians 4:16 where it says, “For the Lord Himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with
the trump of God…” The last trump, which is the seventh trump. “…And
the dead in Christ shall rise first…”, that is after the two witnesses.
Paul didn’t know about the two witnesses or the book of Revelation at that
time. Then the dead in Christ shall rise first. “Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds…” Now notice
“caught up”. We will be taken up. The angels are going to take
us there. “…To meet the Lord in the air…” Now actually in the Greek it
means this: for the meeting with the Lord in the air. So there’s going
to be a meeting. What kind of meeting? How long is it going to
be? Where is it going…it says in the air. And it says, “…and so
shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). That doesn’t mean
we’re going to be in the air all the time cause other verses show that we
come back down out of that. So what I believe is this: I believe
when the heavens are rolled back as a scroll, they see the sign of the Son
of man coming and it’s like a big sun that gets closer and closer and closer
to the earth. And it will look like just like the sun as it shines
from east to west as the earth is turning. And as it gets closer and
closer and closer to the earth, getting down toward the last Pentecost, it’s
going to come down into a position in the clouds and then it’s going to lock
into orbit right over Jerusalem, and there is going to be there the sea of
glass.
Now let’s go back to Exodus 24 because we need to understand something that
when God came down and talked to Moses and the elders there in Exodus 24, it
talks about a sea of glass. Just like we saw in Revelation 4, that
there was a sea of glass where the throne of God is. So God is going
to have a sea of glass on which, when we are resurrected, as we will see,
we’re going to stand.
Let’s come here to Exodus 24:9. After they were there, received the
Ten Commandments, received all the words of the Lord then the day afterwards
they went on up there. Verse 9, “Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab,
and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: and they saw the God of
Israel: and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the
body of heaven in his clearness” (Ex. 24:9-10). So this is describing
a sea of glass. Now we know from the book of Ezekiel that there are
other Cherabim that God uses to transport Himself from one place to another,
and here we find, here’s a sea of glass.
Now let’s go back to the book of Revelation and let’s see that also all of
those who are resurrected are going to be on the sea of glass. Let’s
come to Revelation 14 and let’s see again the harvest. This time the
harvest is likened unto the grapes and the vine that are ready. Let’s
pick it up here in verse 14, “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and
upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of man…” So Christ comes
right down into the clouds. That’s what all the other scriptures say.
“…Having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him
that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come
for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that
sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was
reaped” (Rev. 14:14-16). That’s the first resurrection. Are we all not
like a vine? Are we all not likened unto a harvest? Are we not
the firstfruits? And I believe that this takes place on the Feast of
Pentecost, and we will see by the flow of events that it has to.
And let’s see what happens…and this is showing those who are resurrected,
who are going to meet Christ in the air, in the clouds, and were they will
be. Chapter 15:1, “And I saw another sign in heaven, great and
marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled
up the wrath of God.” Now we know that Christ and the saints do not
return to the earth until after the seven last plagues are competed, however
notice this, verse 2. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled
with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his
image, and over his mark…” Question – how long is the beast been
around? Well the true beast is Satan, isn’t it? Yes.
Revelation 12 shows that Satan the devil depicted as the dragon with seven
heads and ten horns has been the beast that’s always been around. And
this is the system, which is called also in the prophets of the book of
Revelation, Babylon. Babylon the great. And it’s always had its
system, which it has tried to impose upon the people of God. And
everyone of them has to get the victory over it. Did not Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego get the victory over the image of the idol of the
beast of Nebuchadnezzar commanded them to bow down to? Yes they did.
So you see it goes all the way back. “…Gotten the victory over the
beast, and over his image, and over his mark…” And that’s going to come in
our day. “…And over the number of his name…” That’s going to
come in our day. “…Stand on the sea of glass…” There’s a place to
stand. “…Having the harps of God” (Rev. 15:1-2).
Now how long are we going to be on the sea of glass, and what is going to
take place on the sea of glass? And why do we have to be resurrected
to meet Christ in the air and be on the sea of glass? Well, we’ll
answer that in just a minute. But first of all we’re going to see…
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty;
just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” And that can be none other than Christ.
“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for
Thy judgments are made manifest” (vs. 3-4).
Now let’s continue on here in Revelation 15:5, “And after that I looked,
and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was
opened…”, right into the holy of holies, as it were. Now who is there
in the holy of holies but God the Father, correct? “And seven angels
came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white
linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of
the four [living creatures] beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden
vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth forever and ever. And the
temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and
no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the
seven angels were fulfilled” (vs. 4-8).
Now one of the reasons why we are on the sea of glass there at this time
when the seven last plagues are poured out is this, let’s go back to Psalm
58:10 where it tells us here’s a promise that God has given to every one of
the saints. He said vengeance is Mine, vengeance belongs to the Lord,
give place to wrath, don’t take vengeance into your hands He will do it for
us. Now notice Psalm 58:10, “The righeous shall rejoice when he seeth
the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.” Now
that’s describing the end time brethren. We’re going to see the
vengeance of God.
Now let’s go to Psalm 149, because I think this is going to take place
right on the sea of glass when we are resurrected there. We’re going
to sing the new songs. We’re going to sing the song of Moses, the song
of the Lamb. Now Psalm 149:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the
LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints.”
That’s all of us together. And wasn’t it said of Jesus that He is not
ashamed to call them brethren. He will declare His name in the great
congregation. What is the great congregation? That is only when
we are all resurrected and on the sea of glass with Jesus Christ.
“Let Israel [that is spiritual Israel] rejoice in Him that made him [we are
the creation of God]: let the children of Zion…”, who are us, who come to
the living Mt. Zion, which is in heaven above. “…Be joyful in their
King. Let them praise His name in the dance…” So we’re going to dance
on the sea of glass. Now I don’t know what that’s going to be like.
That’s going to be something. “…Let them sing praises unto Him with
the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people…” God
is going to be happy. God is going to be glad and so are we.
Resurrected there and on the sea of glass with Christ. “…He will
beautify the meek with salvation.” That is giving out the rewards and
giving us our clothes and giving us all the things that we need. “Let
the saints be joyful in glory…” Because that’s when we will have
glory. “…Let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand…”, because
we then are going to come down and fight. To what? “To execute
vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind
their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute
upon them the judgment written: this honour have all His saints.
Praise you the LORD” (Psa. 149:1-9).
Now let’s go back to Revelation 16. “And I heard a great voice out of
the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials
of the wrath of God upon the earth.” So the went one after the other.
“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell
a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast,
and upon them which worshipped his image” (Rev. 16:1-2). And
then the second angel, and this time now every living thing in the oceans
die because it were turned to blood. The third angel, all the rivers
turned to blood.
And then is proclaimed that these are the righteous and holy and true
judgments of the Lord because He has judged this. Verse 6, “For they
have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and Thou hast given them blood
to drink; for they are worthy. …Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and
righteous are Thy judgments” (vs. 6-7). And the fourth angel
poured out his vial and the sun became very intense with heat and burned the
men, and yet they repented not nor gave glory to God. The fifth angel
sounded and the seat of the beast and his kingdom was filled with darkness,
just like in Egypt, full of darkness. “And [they] blasphemed the God
of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their
deeds.” Then the sixth angel poured out his vial and then the spirits
like frogs came out of the mouth of the beast and the false prophet, and
Satan, and then went out to all the kings of the earth to gather them
together to the great battle of God Almighty, then which is the seventh vial
that is poured out, which then is then a great and tremendous thing that
happens here. And the earthquake took place. All the cities of
the nations fell. Great Babylon came into remembrance before God for
judgment against it. And then out of heaven came a hail weighing 180
pounds, which killed all those men.
Now the events that are going to take place on the sea of glass.
We’re going to be resurrected, number 1, and meet Christ in the air there.
We are going to have great and marvelous fellowship up there. It’s
going to be something. We are going to receive our new name, number 2.
Number 3, we are going to receive our reward. Number 4, the marriage
of the Lamb is going to take place. And brethren I believe that God
the Father Himself is going to come down to that sea of glass and He is
going to perform the wedding vows between those of the first resurrection
and Jesus Christ our Lord. And what a time that is going to be.
Whatever the ceremony is going to be, and God the Father looks down upon us
and says, “Do you faithfully promise…”, and we all look back at Him and say,
“We do.” And Christ looks at the Father and says, “I do.” Then
we have the marriage supper of the Lamb next, that’s number 5. Then we
have the giving of our assignments so we know what we’re going to do, number
6. Then number 7, we’re going to come back to the earth with Jesus
Christ.
Let’s go to Revelation 19 and we will see where this takes place.
Great and tremendous thing is going to take place brethren. The
heavens again are going to open up, we’re going to be mount up on our
horses, we’re going to follow Christ,Who’s name is called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness does He judge and make war to come back to the earth,
and this brethren will be on the last Feast of Trumpets, because we’re going
to be on the sea of glass between Pentecost and Trumpets. And then
when the Feast of Trumpets comes and all the trumpets are blown, great and
fantastic time. Then the earth is going to look up and see the armies
of God coming and that’s us coming back to the earth with Jesus Christ.
And God is going to execute His judgment, and execute His vengeance in this
and great all consuming war.
So brethren this is why we have the Feast of Pentecost, the harvest of the
firstfruits, and we are harvest, and we are raised, and we are given eternal
life. And then we are going to be there with the wedding of the Lamb.
All of these events are going to take place and then we’re going to have the
great and marvelous thing to be able to see God the Father, to be married to
Christ, and then to come back to this earth and begin the Kingdom of God on
earth for a thousand years. And when we come back, we’re going to
destroy every enemy that there ever has been of God. And then we get
on into the time when Satan the devil is bound.
So that’s the meaning of the Feast of Pentecost. So always keep these
things in mind brethren, we are the firstfruits of the creation of God.
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